diff --git a/drivers/net/usb/ax88172a.c b/drivers/net/usb/ax88172a.c
index af3994e0853b..525900896ce0 100644
--- a/drivers/net/usb/ax88172a.c
+++ b/drivers/net/usb/ax88172a.c
@@ -197,6 +197,8 @@ static int ax88172a_bind(struct usbnet *dev, struct usb_interface *intf)
 	/* Get the MAC address */
 	ret = asix_read_cmd(dev, AX_CMD_READ_NODE_ID, 0, 0, ETH_ALEN, buf, 0);
 	if (ret < ETH_ALEN) {
+		if (ret >= 0)
+			ret = -ENXIO;
 		netdev_err(dev->net, "Failed to read MAC address: %d\n", ret);
 		goto free;
 	}