diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/mellanox/mlx5/core/steering/hws/send.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/mellanox/mlx5/core/steering/hws/send.c
index df3b93499eeb..ae3ff232c63b 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/mellanox/mlx5/core/steering/hws/send.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/mellanox/mlx5/core/steering/hws/send.c
@@ -1305,7 +1305,7 @@ hws_send_wqe_fw(struct mlx5_core_dev *mdev,
 		goto send_wqe;
 	}
 
-	return -1;
+	return -EIO;
 }
 
 void mlx5hws_send_stes_fw(struct mlx5hws_context *ctx,