diff --git a/drivers/net/usb/dm9601.c b/drivers/net/usb/dm9601.c
index 48d7d278631e..4f8831e8f014 100644
--- a/drivers/net/usb/dm9601.c
+++ b/drivers/net/usb/dm9601.c
@@ -228,7 +228,8 @@ static int dm9601_mdio_read(struct net_device *netdev, int phy_id, int loc)
 		return 0;
 	}
 
-	dm_read_shared_word(dev, 1, loc, &res);
+	if (dm_read_shared_word(dev, 1, loc, &res) <= 0)
+		return -ENODATA;
 
 	netdev_dbg(dev->net,
 		   "dm9601_mdio_read() phy_id=0x%02x, loc=0x%02x, returns=0x%04x\n",