diff --git a/net/netlink/genetlink.c b/net/netlink/genetlink.c
index 2e11061ef885..c18d3f5624b2 100644
--- a/net/netlink/genetlink.c
+++ b/net/netlink/genetlink.c
@@ -985,7 +985,7 @@ static struct genl_multicast_group genl_ctrl_groups[] = {
 
 static int genl_bind(struct net *net, int group)
 {
-	int i, err = 0;
+	int i, err = -ENOENT;
 
 	down_read(&cb_lock);
 	for (i = 0; i < GENL_FAM_TAB_SIZE; i++) {