diff --git a/net/9p/client.c b/net/9p/client.c
index ef64546c6d52..e63e8c2a853d 100644
--- a/net/9p/client.c
+++ b/net/9p/client.c
@@ -448,6 +448,9 @@ static int p9_check_errors(struct p9_client *c, struct p9_req_t *req)
 		p9_debug(P9_DEBUG_9P, "<<< RLERROR (%d)\n", -ecode);
 	}
 
+	if (!err)
+		err = -EPROTO;
+
 	return err;
 
 out_err: