diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/cavium/thunder/nicvf_main.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/cavium/thunder/nicvf_main.c
index f3b7b443f9648..c00f1a7ffc15f 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/cavium/thunder/nicvf_main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/cavium/thunder/nicvf_main.c
@@ -1226,7 +1226,7 @@ static int nicvf_register_misc_interrupt(struct nicvf *nic)
 	if (ret < 0) {
 		netdev_err(nic->netdev,
 			   "Req for #%d msix vectors failed\n", nic->num_vec);
-		return 1;
+		return ret;
 	}
 
 	sprintf(nic->irq_name[irq], "%s Mbox", "NICVF");
@@ -1245,7 +1245,7 @@ static int nicvf_register_misc_interrupt(struct nicvf *nic)
 	if (!nicvf_check_pf_ready(nic)) {
 		nicvf_disable_intr(nic, NICVF_INTR_MBOX, 0);
 		nicvf_unregister_interrupts(nic);
-		return 1;
+		return -EIO;
 	}
 
 	return 0;