diff --git a/gdb/aarch64-tdep.c b/gdb/aarch64-tdep.c
index b6d6d70cb56..0ecc3e0c0f2 100644
--- a/gdb/aarch64-tdep.c
+++ b/gdb/aarch64-tdep.c
@@ -4827,7 +4827,7 @@ aarch64_gdbarch_init (struct gdbarch_info info, struct gdbarch_list *arches)
   set_gdbarch_long_long_bit (gdbarch, 64);
   set_gdbarch_ptr_bit (gdbarch, 64);
   set_gdbarch_char_signed (gdbarch, 0);
-  set_gdbarch_wchar_signed (gdbarch, 0);
+  set_gdbarch_wchar_signed (gdbarch, false);
   set_gdbarch_float_format (gdbarch, floatformats_ieee_single);
   set_gdbarch_double_format (gdbarch, floatformats_ieee_double);
   set_gdbarch_long_double_format (gdbarch, floatformats_ieee_quad);
diff --git a/gdb/alpha-tdep.c b/gdb/alpha-tdep.c
index f6c7a256205..759f3190512 100644
--- a/gdb/alpha-tdep.c
+++ b/gdb/alpha-tdep.c
@@ -1750,7 +1750,7 @@ alpha_gdbarch_init (struct gdbarch_info info, struct gdbarch_list *arches)
   set_gdbarch_long_bit (gdbarch, 64);
   set_gdbarch_long_long_bit (gdbarch, 64);
   set_gdbarch_wchar_bit (gdbarch, 64);
-  set_gdbarch_wchar_signed (gdbarch, 0);
+  set_gdbarch_wchar_signed (gdbarch, false);
   set_gdbarch_float_bit (gdbarch, 32);
   set_gdbarch_double_bit (gdbarch, 64);
   set_gdbarch_long_double_bit (gdbarch, 64);
diff --git a/gdb/arm-tdep.c b/gdb/arm-tdep.c
index d7a9b469ef8..1129fd6dfd2 100644
--- a/gdb/arm-tdep.c
+++ b/gdb/arm-tdep.c
@@ -10683,9 +10683,7 @@ arm_gdbarch_init (struct gdbarch_info info, struct gdbarch_list *arches)
 
   /* wchar_t is unsigned under the AAPCS.  */
   if (tdep->arm_abi == ARM_ABI_AAPCS)
-    set_gdbarch_wchar_signed (gdbarch, 0);
-  else
-    set_gdbarch_wchar_signed (gdbarch, 1);
+    set_gdbarch_wchar_signed (gdbarch, false);
 
   /* Compute type alignment.  */
   set_gdbarch_type_align (gdbarch, arm_type_align);
diff --git a/gdb/avr-tdep.c b/gdb/avr-tdep.c
index fe0283f1b48..8b88f69a04f 100644
--- a/gdb/avr-tdep.c
+++ b/gdb/avr-tdep.c
@@ -1487,7 +1487,6 @@ avr_gdbarch_init (struct gdbarch_info info, struct gdbarch_list *arches)
   set_gdbarch_addr_bit (gdbarch, 32);
 
   set_gdbarch_wchar_bit (gdbarch, 2 * TARGET_CHAR_BIT);
-  set_gdbarch_wchar_signed (gdbarch, 1);
 
   set_gdbarch_float_bit (gdbarch, 4 * TARGET_CHAR_BIT);
   set_gdbarch_double_bit (gdbarch, 4 * TARGET_CHAR_BIT);
diff --git a/gdb/gdbarch-gen.c b/gdb/gdbarch-gen.c
index e622e812de5..545cc22e567 100644
--- a/gdb/gdbarch-gen.c
+++ b/gdb/gdbarch-gen.c
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ struct gdbarch
   int long_double_bit = 8*TARGET_CHAR_BIT;
   const struct floatformat ** long_double_format = floatformats_ieee_double;
   int wchar_bit = 4*TARGET_CHAR_BIT;
-  int wchar_signed = -1;
+  bool wchar_signed = true;
   gdbarch_floatformat_for_type_ftype *floatformat_for_type = default_floatformat_for_type;
   int ptr_bit = 4*TARGET_CHAR_BIT;
   int addr_bit = 0;
@@ -307,8 +307,6 @@ verify_gdbarch (struct gdbarch *gdbarch)
   /* Skip verify of long_double_bit, invalid_p == 0.  */
   /* Skip verify of long_double_format, invalid_p == 0.  */
   /* Skip verify of wchar_bit, invalid_p == 0.  */
-  if (gdbarch->wchar_signed == -1)
-    gdbarch->wchar_signed = 1;
   /* Skip verify of wchar_signed, invalid_p == 0.  */
   /* Skip verify of floatformat_for_type, invalid_p == 0.  */
   /* Skip verify of ptr_bit, invalid_p == 0.  */
@@ -1648,12 +1646,11 @@ set_gdbarch_wchar_bit (struct gdbarch *gdbarch,
   gdbarch->wchar_bit = wchar_bit;
 }
 
-int
+bool
 gdbarch_wchar_signed (struct gdbarch *gdbarch)
 {
   gdb_assert (gdbarch != NULL);
-  /* Check variable changed from its initial value.  */
-  gdb_assert (gdbarch->wchar_signed != -1);
+  /* Skip verify of wchar_signed, invalid_p == 0.  */
   if (gdbarch_debug >= 2)
     gdb_printf (gdb_stdlog, "gdbarch_wchar_signed called\n");
   return gdbarch->wchar_signed;
@@ -1661,7 +1658,7 @@ gdbarch_wchar_signed (struct gdbarch *gdbarch)
 
 void
 set_gdbarch_wchar_signed (struct gdbarch *gdbarch,
-			  int wchar_signed)
+			  bool wchar_signed)
 {
   gdbarch->wchar_signed = wchar_signed;
 }
diff --git a/gdb/gdbarch-gen.h b/gdb/gdbarch-gen.h
index b0534c3e6ab..b53cd389300 100644
--- a/gdb/gdbarch-gen.h
+++ b/gdb/gdbarch-gen.h
@@ -109,10 +109,12 @@ extern void set_gdbarch_long_double_format (struct gdbarch *gdbarch, const struc
 extern int gdbarch_wchar_bit (struct gdbarch *gdbarch);
 extern void set_gdbarch_wchar_bit (struct gdbarch *gdbarch, int wchar_bit);
 
-/* One if `wchar_t' is signed, zero if unsigned. */
+/* True if `wchar_t' is signed, false if unsigned.
 
-extern int gdbarch_wchar_signed (struct gdbarch *gdbarch);
-extern void set_gdbarch_wchar_signed (struct gdbarch *gdbarch, int wchar_signed);
+   The default value is true (signed). */
+
+extern bool gdbarch_wchar_signed (struct gdbarch *gdbarch);
+extern void set_gdbarch_wchar_signed (struct gdbarch *gdbarch, bool wchar_signed);
 
 /* Returns the floating-point format to be used for values of length LENGTH.
    NAME, if non-NULL, is the type name, which may be used to distinguish
diff --git a/gdb/gdbarch_components.py b/gdb/gdbarch_components.py
index 3dead483934..2224426c964 100644
--- a/gdb/gdbarch_components.py
+++ b/gdb/gdbarch_components.py
@@ -286,12 +286,13 @@ starting with C++11.
 
 Value(
     comment="""
-One if `wchar_t' is signed, zero if unsigned.
+True if `wchar_t' is signed, false if unsigned.
+
+The default value is true (signed).
 """,
-    type="int",
+    type="bool",
     name="wchar_signed",
-    predefault="-1",
-    postdefault="1",
+    predefault="true",
     invalid=False,
 )
 
diff --git a/gdb/h8300-tdep.c b/gdb/h8300-tdep.c
index 29ea499a72b..78edb1d0120 100644
--- a/gdb/h8300-tdep.c
+++ b/gdb/h8300-tdep.c
@@ -1352,7 +1352,7 @@ h8300_gdbarch_init (struct gdbarch_info info, struct gdbarch_list *arches)
   set_gdbarch_long_long_bit (gdbarch, 8 * TARGET_CHAR_BIT);
 
   set_gdbarch_wchar_bit (gdbarch, 2 * TARGET_CHAR_BIT);
-  set_gdbarch_wchar_signed (gdbarch, 0);
+  set_gdbarch_wchar_signed (gdbarch, false);
 
   set_gdbarch_double_bit (gdbarch, 4 * TARGET_CHAR_BIT);
   set_gdbarch_double_format (gdbarch, floatformats_ieee_single);
diff --git a/gdb/i386-go32-tdep.c b/gdb/i386-go32-tdep.c
index 6fd572d010e..c9967eb5789 100644
--- a/gdb/i386-go32-tdep.c
+++ b/gdb/i386-go32-tdep.c
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ i386_go32_init_abi (struct gdbarch_info info, struct gdbarch *gdbarch)
   set_gdbarch_has_dos_based_file_system (gdbarch, 1);
 
   set_gdbarch_wchar_bit (gdbarch, 16);
-  set_gdbarch_wchar_signed (gdbarch, 0);
+  set_gdbarch_wchar_signed (gdbarch, false);
 }
 
 
diff --git a/gdb/m32r-tdep.c b/gdb/m32r-tdep.c
index 92e79c86133..b5792eeeafc 100644
--- a/gdb/m32r-tdep.c
+++ b/gdb/m32r-tdep.c
@@ -870,7 +870,7 @@ m32r_gdbarch_init (struct gdbarch_info info, struct gdbarch_list *arches)
     = gdbarch_alloc (&info, gdbarch_tdep_up (new m32r_gdbarch_tdep));
 
   set_gdbarch_wchar_bit (gdbarch, 16);
-  set_gdbarch_wchar_signed (gdbarch, 0);
+  set_gdbarch_wchar_signed (gdbarch, false);
 
   set_gdbarch_num_regs (gdbarch, M32R_NUM_REGS);
   set_gdbarch_pc_regnum (gdbarch, M32R_PC_REGNUM);
diff --git a/gdb/moxie-tdep.c b/gdb/moxie-tdep.c
index c8c301d2be5..c8a04d21f59 100644
--- a/gdb/moxie-tdep.c
+++ b/gdb/moxie-tdep.c
@@ -1060,7 +1060,7 @@ moxie_gdbarch_init (struct gdbarch_info info, struct gdbarch_list *arches)
     = gdbarch_alloc (&info, gdbarch_tdep_up (new moxie_gdbarch_tdep));
 
   set_gdbarch_wchar_bit (gdbarch, 32);
-  set_gdbarch_wchar_signed (gdbarch, 0);
+  set_gdbarch_wchar_signed (gdbarch, false);
 
   set_gdbarch_num_regs (gdbarch, MOXIE_NUM_REGS);
   set_gdbarch_sp_regnum (gdbarch, MOXIE_SP_REGNUM);
diff --git a/gdb/nds32-tdep.c b/gdb/nds32-tdep.c
index 7e2ed30f5bd..4278c92d5f3 100644
--- a/gdb/nds32-tdep.c
+++ b/gdb/nds32-tdep.c
@@ -1993,7 +1993,7 @@ nds32_gdbarch_init (struct gdbarch_info info, struct gdbarch_list *arches)
   tdep->elf_abi = elf_abi;
 
   set_gdbarch_wchar_bit (gdbarch, 16);
-  set_gdbarch_wchar_signed (gdbarch, 0);
+  set_gdbarch_wchar_signed (gdbarch, false);
 
   if (fpu_freg == -1)
     num_regs = NDS32_NUM_REGS;
diff --git a/gdb/rs6000-aix-tdep.c b/gdb/rs6000-aix-tdep.c
index eb3f9bceda3..d823fea5645 100644
--- a/gdb/rs6000-aix-tdep.c
+++ b/gdb/rs6000-aix-tdep.c
@@ -1407,7 +1407,7 @@ rs6000_aix_init_osabi (struct gdbarch_info info, struct gdbarch *gdbarch)
     set_gdbarch_wchar_bit (gdbarch, 32);
   else
     set_gdbarch_wchar_bit (gdbarch, 16);
-  set_gdbarch_wchar_signed (gdbarch, 0);
+  set_gdbarch_wchar_signed (gdbarch, false);
   set_gdbarch_auto_wide_charset (gdbarch, rs6000_aix_auto_wide_charset);
 
   set_gdbarch_make_solib_ops (gdbarch, make_aix_solib_ops);
diff --git a/gdb/sh-tdep.c b/gdb/sh-tdep.c
index 4b582c5cf1e..f67edc08982 100644
--- a/gdb/sh-tdep.c
+++ b/gdb/sh-tdep.c
@@ -2235,7 +2235,7 @@ sh_gdbarch_init (struct gdbarch_info info, struct gdbarch_list *arches)
   set_gdbarch_long_long_bit (gdbarch, 8 * TARGET_CHAR_BIT);
 
   set_gdbarch_wchar_bit (gdbarch, 2 * TARGET_CHAR_BIT);
-  set_gdbarch_wchar_signed (gdbarch, 0);
+  set_gdbarch_wchar_signed (gdbarch, false);
 
   set_gdbarch_float_bit (gdbarch, 4 * TARGET_CHAR_BIT);
   set_gdbarch_double_bit (gdbarch, 8 * TARGET_CHAR_BIT);
diff --git a/gdb/sparc-tdep.c b/gdb/sparc-tdep.c
index 65f3f5c95b0..e495d13a904 100644
--- a/gdb/sparc-tdep.c
+++ b/gdb/sparc-tdep.c
@@ -1825,7 +1825,6 @@ sparc32_gdbarch_init (struct gdbarch_info info, struct gdbarch_list *arches)
   set_gdbarch_long_double_format (gdbarch, floatformats_ieee_quad);
 
   set_gdbarch_wchar_bit (gdbarch, 16);
-  set_gdbarch_wchar_signed (gdbarch, 1);
 
   set_gdbarch_num_regs (gdbarch, SPARC32_NUM_REGS);
   set_gdbarch_register_name (gdbarch, sparc32_register_name);
diff --git a/gdb/sparc64-tdep.c b/gdb/sparc64-tdep.c
index 88bc0ba3ad4..93db3417a2a 100644
--- a/gdb/sparc64-tdep.c
+++ b/gdb/sparc64-tdep.c
@@ -1817,7 +1817,7 @@ sparc64_init_abi (struct gdbarch_info info, struct gdbarch *gdbarch)
   set_gdbarch_ptr_bit (gdbarch, 64);
 
   set_gdbarch_wchar_bit (gdbarch, 16);
-  set_gdbarch_wchar_signed (gdbarch, 0);
+  set_gdbarch_wchar_signed (gdbarch, false);
 
   set_gdbarch_num_regs (gdbarch, SPARC64_NUM_REGS);
   set_gdbarch_register_name (gdbarch, sparc64_register_name);
diff --git a/gdb/windows-tdep.c b/gdb/windows-tdep.c
index c41b500afc1..ee04ed10f24 100644
--- a/gdb/windows-tdep.c
+++ b/gdb/windows-tdep.c
@@ -942,7 +942,7 @@ static void
 windows_init_abi_common (struct gdbarch_info info, struct gdbarch *gdbarch)
 {
   set_gdbarch_wchar_bit (gdbarch, 16);
-  set_gdbarch_wchar_signed (gdbarch, 0);
+  set_gdbarch_wchar_signed (gdbarch, false);
   set_gdbarch_auto_wide_charset (gdbarch, windows_auto_wide_charset);
 
   /* Canonical paths on this target look like
diff --git a/gdb/xstormy16-tdep.c b/gdb/xstormy16-tdep.c
index a55070df9ec..b51668169eb 100644
--- a/gdb/xstormy16-tdep.c
+++ b/gdb/xstormy16-tdep.c
@@ -779,7 +779,6 @@ xstormy16_gdbarch_init (struct gdbarch_info info, struct gdbarch_list *arches)
   set_gdbarch_long_long_bit (gdbarch, 8 * TARGET_CHAR_BIT);
 
   set_gdbarch_wchar_bit (gdbarch, 2 * TARGET_CHAR_BIT);
-  set_gdbarch_wchar_signed (gdbarch, 1);
 
   set_gdbarch_float_bit (gdbarch, 4 * TARGET_CHAR_BIT);
   set_gdbarch_double_bit (gdbarch, 8 * TARGET_CHAR_BIT);
diff --git a/gdb/xtensa-tdep.c b/gdb/xtensa-tdep.c
index d9f81f4167b..388b57dcaee 100644
--- a/gdb/xtensa-tdep.c
+++ b/gdb/xtensa-tdep.c
@@ -3170,7 +3170,7 @@ xtensa_gdbarch_init (struct gdbarch_info info, struct gdbarch_list *arches)
   xtensa_session_once_reported = 0;
 
   set_gdbarch_wchar_bit (gdbarch, 2 * TARGET_CHAR_BIT);
-  set_gdbarch_wchar_signed (gdbarch, 0);
+  set_gdbarch_wchar_signed (gdbarch, false);
 
   /* Pseudo-Register read/write.  */
   set_gdbarch_pseudo_register_read (gdbarch, xtensa_pseudo_register_read);