diff --git a/drivers/md/dm-exception-store.c b/drivers/md/dm-exception-store.c
index c3799757bf4a..88f119a0a2ae 100644
--- a/drivers/md/dm-exception-store.c
+++ b/drivers/md/dm-exception-store.c
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ int dm_exception_store_type_register(struct dm_exception_store_type *type)
 	if (!__find_exception_store_type(type->name))
 		list_add(&type->list, &_exception_store_types);
 	else
-		r = -EEXIST;
+		r = -EBUSY;
 	spin_unlock(&_lock);
 
 	return r;
diff --git a/drivers/md/dm-log.c b/drivers/md/dm-log.c
index 9d85d045f9d9..bced5a783ee3 100644
--- a/drivers/md/dm-log.c
+++ b/drivers/md/dm-log.c
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ int dm_dirty_log_type_register(struct dm_dirty_log_type *type)
 	if (!__find_dirty_log_type(type->name))
 		list_add(&type->list, &_log_types);
 	else
-		r = -EEXIST;
+		r = -EBUSY;
 	spin_unlock(&_lock);
 
 	return r;
diff --git a/drivers/md/dm-path-selector.c b/drivers/md/dm-path-selector.c
index d0b883fabfeb..2b0ac200f1c0 100644
--- a/drivers/md/dm-path-selector.c
+++ b/drivers/md/dm-path-selector.c
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ int dm_register_path_selector(struct path_selector_type *pst)
 
 	if (__find_path_selector_type(pst->name)) {
 		kfree(psi);
-		r = -EEXIST;
+		r = -EBUSY;
 	} else
 		list_add(&psi->list, &_path_selectors);
 
diff --git a/drivers/md/dm-target.c b/drivers/md/dm-target.c
index 8fede41adec0..1fd41289de36 100644
--- a/drivers/md/dm-target.c
+++ b/drivers/md/dm-target.c
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ int dm_register_target(struct target_type *tt)
 	if (__find_target_type(tt->name)) {
 		DMERR("%s: '%s' target already registered",
 		      __func__, tt->name);
-		rv = -EEXIST;
+		rv = -EBUSY;
 	} else {
 		list_add(&tt->list, &_targets);
 	}