diff --git a/tools/gbcpal.c b/tools/gbcpal.c
index 0944073121..b5cdeea8b0 100644
--- a/tools/gbcpal.c
+++ b/tools/gbcpal.c
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ double luminance(struct Color color) {
 int compare_colors(const void *color1, const void *color2) {
 	double lum1 = luminance(*(const struct Color *)color1);
 	double lum2 = luminance(*(const struct Color *)color2);
-	return lum1 > lum2 ? -1 : lum1 < lum2; // sort lightest to darkest
+	return (lum1 < lum2) - (lum1 > lum2); // sort lightest to darkest
 }
 
 void read_gbcpal(const char *filename, struct Color **colors, size_t *num_colors) {
diff --git a/tools/make_patch.c b/tools/make_patch.c
index 1218339f42..3a36accdd8 100644
--- a/tools/make_patch.c
+++ b/tools/make_patch.c
@@ -417,7 +417,7 @@ struct Buffer *process_template(const char *template_filename, const char *patch
 int compare_patch(const void *patch1, const void *patch2) {
 	unsigned int offset1 = ((const struct Patch *)patch1)->offset;
 	unsigned int offset2 = ((const struct Patch *)patch2)->offset;
-	return offset1 < offset2 ? -1 : offset1 > offset2;
+	return (offset1 > offset2) - (offset1 < offset2);
 }
 
 bool verify_completeness(FILE *restrict orig_rom, FILE *restrict new_rom, struct Buffer *patches) {