diff --git a/drivers/regulator/lp3971.c b/drivers/regulator/lp3971.c
index 3b1102b75071..66fd2330dca0 100644
--- a/drivers/regulator/lp3971.c
+++ b/drivers/regulator/lp3971.c
@@ -327,7 +327,7 @@ static int lp3971_i2c_read(struct i2c_client *i2c, char reg, int count,
 		return -EIO;
 	ret = i2c_smbus_read_byte_data(i2c, reg);
 	if (ret < 0)
-		return -EIO;
+		return ret;
 
 	*dest = ret;
 	return 0;