diff --git a/drivers/rtc/rtc-pcf2123.c b/drivers/rtc/rtc-pcf2123.c
index 836118795c0b..9ea255573d97 100644
--- a/drivers/rtc/rtc-pcf2123.c
+++ b/drivers/rtc/rtc-pcf2123.c
@@ -264,6 +264,7 @@ static int __devinit pcf2123_probe(struct spi_device *spi)
 
 	if (!(rxbuf[0] & 0x20)) {
 		dev_err(&spi->dev, "chip not found\n");
+		ret = -ENODEV;
 		goto kfree_exit;
 	}