diff --git a/drivers/vdpa/solidrun/snet_ctrl.c b/drivers/vdpa/solidrun/snet_ctrl.c
index e284c3a06717..09afa0487fd6 100644
--- a/drivers/vdpa/solidrun/snet_ctrl.c
+++ b/drivers/vdpa/solidrun/snet_ctrl.c
@@ -291,7 +291,6 @@ static int snet_send_ctrl_msg(struct snet *snet, u16 opcode, u16 vq_idx)
 
 	/* Check for errors */
 	val = snet_read_ctrl(regs);
-	ret = SNET_VAL_TO_ERR(val);
 
 	/* Clear the chunk ready bit */
 	val &= ~SNET_CTRL_CHUNK_RDY_MASK;
@@ -301,6 +300,8 @@ static int snet_send_ctrl_msg(struct snet *snet, u16 opcode, u16 vq_idx)
 	if (ret)
 		SNET_WARN(pdev, "Timeout waiting for DPU to complete a control command, err %d\n",
 			  ret);
+	else
+		ret = SNET_VAL_TO_ERR(val);
 
 exit:
 	mutex_unlock(&snet->ctrl_lock);