diff --git a/src/modules/events/temperature_calibration/accel.cpp b/src/modules/events/temperature_calibration/accel.cpp
index 022429ff62..404d3ee517 100644
--- a/src/modules/events/temperature_calibration/accel.cpp
+++ b/src/modules/events/temperature_calibration/accel.cpp
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ int TemperatureCalibrationAccel::update_sensor_instance(PerSensorData &data, int
 		if (hrt_absolute_time() > 10E6) {
 			// If intial temperature exceeds maximum declare an error condition and exit
 			if (data.sensor_sample_filt[3] > _max_start_temperature) {
-				return -110;
+				return -TC_ERROR_INITIAL_TEMP_TOO_HIGH;
 
 			} else {
 				data.cold_soaked = true;
diff --git a/src/modules/events/temperature_calibration/baro.cpp b/src/modules/events/temperature_calibration/baro.cpp
index 7830f81ac2..220e707112 100644
--- a/src/modules/events/temperature_calibration/baro.cpp
+++ b/src/modules/events/temperature_calibration/baro.cpp
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ int TemperatureCalibrationBaro::update_sensor_instance(PerSensorData &data, int
 		if (hrt_absolute_time() > 10E6) {
 			// If intial temperature exceeds maximum declare an error condition and exit
 			if (data.sensor_sample_filt[1] > _max_start_temperature) {
-				return -110;
+				return -TC_ERROR_INITIAL_TEMP_TOO_HIGH;
 
 			} else {
 				data.cold_soaked = true;
diff --git a/src/modules/events/temperature_calibration/common.h b/src/modules/events/temperature_calibration/common.h
index 7c5aa5c272..8be355eb75 100644
--- a/src/modules/events/temperature_calibration/common.h
+++ b/src/modules/events/temperature_calibration/common.h
@@ -47,6 +47,9 @@
 
 #define SENSOR_COUNT_MAX		3
 
+
+#define TC_ERROR_INITIAL_TEMP_TOO_HIGH 110 ///< starting temperature was above the configured allowed temperature
+
 /**
  * Base class for temperature calibration types with abstract methods (for all different sensor types)
  */
@@ -61,7 +64,8 @@ public:
 
 	/**
 	 * check & update new sensor data.
-	 * @return progress in range [0, 100], 110 when finished, <0 on error, -110 if starting temperature is too hot
+	 * @return progress in range [0, 100], 110 when finished, <0 on error,
+	 *         -TC_ERROR_INITIAL_TEMP_TOO_HIGH if starting temperature is too hot
 	 */
 	virtual int update() = 0;
 
@@ -131,8 +135,8 @@ public:
 			if (status == -1) {
 				return -1;
 
-			} else if (status == -110) {
-				return -110;
+			} else if (status == -TC_ERROR_INITIAL_TEMP_TOO_HIGH) {
+				return -TC_ERROR_INITIAL_TEMP_TOO_HIGH;
 			}
 
 			num_not_complete += status;
@@ -177,7 +181,7 @@ protected:
 
 	/**
 	 * update a single sensor instance
-	 * @return 0 when done, 1 not finished yet, -1 for an error that requires the test to be repeated
+	 * @return 0 when done, 1 not finished yet, <0 for an error
 	 */
 	virtual int update_sensor_instance(PerSensorData &data, int sensor_sub) = 0;
 
diff --git a/src/modules/events/temperature_calibration/gyro.cpp b/src/modules/events/temperature_calibration/gyro.cpp
index 2564794de3..717b2ec469 100644
--- a/src/modules/events/temperature_calibration/gyro.cpp
+++ b/src/modules/events/temperature_calibration/gyro.cpp
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ int TemperatureCalibrationGyro::update_sensor_instance(PerSensorData &data, int
 		if (hrt_absolute_time() > 10E6) {
 			// If intial temperature exceeds maximum declare an error condition and exit
 			if (data.sensor_sample_filt[3] > _max_start_temperature) {
-				return -110;
+				return -TC_ERROR_INITIAL_TEMP_TOO_HIGH;
 
 			} else {
 				data.cold_soaked = true;
diff --git a/src/modules/events/temperature_calibration/task.cpp b/src/modules/events/temperature_calibration/task.cpp
index a237c42b03..f942ca99b7 100644
--- a/src/modules/events/temperature_calibration/task.cpp
+++ b/src/modules/events/temperature_calibration/task.cpp
@@ -231,7 +231,7 @@ void TemperatureCalibration::task_main()
 		for (int i = 0; i < num_calibrators; ++i) {
 			ret = calibrators[i]->update();
 
-			if (ret == -110) {
+			if (ret == -TC_ERROR_INITIAL_TEMP_TOO_HIGH) {
 				abort_calibration = true;
 				PX4_ERR("Calibration won't start - sensor temperature too high");
 				_force_task_exit = true;