diff --git a/arch/x86/kernel/cpu/microcode/core.c b/arch/x86/kernel/cpu/microcode/core.c
index 021c90464cc2..c8e0cda0f272 100644
--- a/arch/x86/kernel/cpu/microcode/core.c
+++ b/arch/x86/kernel/cpu/microcode/core.c
@@ -564,14 +564,12 @@ static int __reload_late(void *info)
 	apply_microcode_local(&err);
 	spin_unlock(&update_lock);
 
+	/* siblings return UCODE_OK because their engine got updated already */
 	if (err > UCODE_NFOUND) {
 		pr_warn("Error reloading microcode on CPU %d\n", cpu);
-		return -1;
-	/* siblings return UCODE_OK because their engine got updated already */
+		ret = -1;
 	} else if (err == UCODE_UPDATED || err == UCODE_OK) {
 		ret = 1;
-	} else {
-		return ret;
 	}
 
 	/*