diff --git a/drivers/nvme/target/core.c b/drivers/nvme/target/core.c
index 175c5b6d4dd5..884286f90688 100644
--- a/drivers/nvme/target/core.c
+++ b/drivers/nvme/target/core.c
@@ -581,8 +581,6 @@ int nvmet_ns_enable(struct nvmet_ns *ns)
 	if (ns->enabled)
 		goto out_unlock;
 
-	ret = -EMFILE;
-
 	ret = nvmet_bdev_ns_enable(ns);
 	if (ret == -ENOTBLK)
 		ret = nvmet_file_ns_enable(ns);