diff --git a/arch/x86/kernel/cpu/resctrl/ctrlmondata.c b/arch/x86/kernel/cpu/resctrl/ctrlmondata.c
index 84f23327caed..d2cb96738ff6 100644
--- a/arch/x86/kernel/cpu/resctrl/ctrlmondata.c
+++ b/arch/x86/kernel/cpu/resctrl/ctrlmondata.c
@@ -27,10 +27,10 @@
  * hardware. The allocated bandwidth percentage is rounded to the next
  * control step available on the hardware.
  */
-static bool bw_validate(char *buf, unsigned long *data, struct rdt_resource *r)
+static bool bw_validate(char *buf, u32 *data, struct rdt_resource *r)
 {
-	unsigned long bw;
 	int ret;
+	u32 bw;
 
 	/*
 	 * Only linear delay values is supported for current Intel SKUs.
@@ -40,16 +40,21 @@ static bool bw_validate(char *buf, unsigned long *data, struct rdt_resource *r)
 		return false;
 	}
 
-	ret = kstrtoul(buf, 10, &bw);
+	ret = kstrtou32(buf, 10, &bw);
 	if (ret) {
-		rdt_last_cmd_printf("Non-decimal digit in MB value %s\n", buf);
+		rdt_last_cmd_printf("Invalid MB value %s\n", buf);
 		return false;
 	}
 
-	if ((bw < r->membw.min_bw || bw > r->default_ctrl) &&
-	    !is_mba_sc(r)) {
-		rdt_last_cmd_printf("MB value %ld out of range [%d,%d]\n", bw,
-				    r->membw.min_bw, r->default_ctrl);
+	/* Nothing else to do if software controller is enabled. */
+	if (is_mba_sc(r)) {
+		*data = bw;
+		return true;
+	}
+
+	if (bw < r->membw.min_bw || bw > r->default_ctrl) {
+		rdt_last_cmd_printf("MB value %u out of range [%d,%d]\n",
+				    bw, r->membw.min_bw, r->default_ctrl);
 		return false;
 	}
 
@@ -63,7 +68,7 @@ int parse_bw(struct rdt_parse_data *data, struct resctrl_schema *s,
 	struct resctrl_staged_config *cfg;
 	u32 closid = data->rdtgrp->closid;
 	struct rdt_resource *r = s->res;
-	unsigned long bw_val;
+	u32 bw_val;
 
 	cfg = &d->staged_config[s->conf_type];
 	if (cfg->have_new_ctrl) {