diff --git a/util/math_reference.cpp b/util/math_reference.cpp
index c7ea1006d..67b34ef12 100644
--- a/util/math_reference.cpp
+++ b/util/math_reference.cpp
@@ -203,7 +203,7 @@ T mad_sat_signed_long(T x, T y, T z) {
   if ((x > 0 && y > 0) || (x < 0 && y < 0))
     if (mul > 0 && std::abs(mul) > std::abs(x) && std::abs(mul) > std::abs(y))
       return add_sat(mul, z);
-    else if (z < 0 && mul - std::numeric_limits<T>::min() < abs(z))
+    else if (z < 0 && mul - std::numeric_limits<T>::min() < std::abs(z))
       return std::numeric_limits<T>::max() + z;
     else
       return std::numeric_limits<T>::max();
diff --git a/util/math_reference.h b/util/math_reference.h
index 162ddc5e1..d24ab754b 100644
--- a/util/math_reference.h
+++ b/util/math_reference.h
@@ -285,10 +285,21 @@ sycl::marray<T, N> select(sycl::marray<T, N> a, sycl::marray<T, N> b,
 
 /* absolute value */
 template <typename T>
-T abs(T x) {
-  return x < 0 ? -x : x;
+sycl_cts::resultRef<T> abs(T x) {
+  using U = typename std::make_unsigned<T>::type;
+  T result = x < 0 ? T(-U(x)) : x;
+  return result < 0 ? sycl_cts::resultRef<T>(0, true) : result;
+}
+template <typename T, int N>
+sycl_cts::resultRef<sycl::vec<T, N>> abs(sycl::vec<T, N> a) {
+  return sycl_cts::math::run_func_on_vector_result_ref<T, N>(
+      [](T x) { return abs(x); }, a);
+}
+template <typename T, size_t N>
+sycl_cts::resultRef<sycl::marray<T, N>> abs(sycl::marray<T, N> a) {
+  return sycl_cts::math::run_func_on_marray_result_ref<T, N>(
+      [](T x) { return abs(x); }, a);
 }
-MAKE_VEC_AND_MARRAY_VERSIONS(abs)
 
 /* absolute difference */
 template <typename T>