diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/mac80211_hwsim.c b/drivers/net/wireless/mac80211_hwsim.c
index a0d2aacd5e09..2cd3f54e1efa 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/mac80211_hwsim.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/mac80211_hwsim.c
@@ -2528,8 +2528,10 @@ static int __init init_mac80211_hwsim(void)
 	}
 
 	hwsim_mon = alloc_netdev(0, "hwsim%d", hwsim_mon_setup);
-	if (hwsim_mon == NULL)
+	if (hwsim_mon == NULL) {
+		err = -ENOMEM;
 		goto failed;
+	}
 
 	rtnl_lock();