diff --git a/net/ipv4/ip_output.c b/net/ipv4/ip_output.c
index ebd2cea5b7d7a..66908ce2dd116 100644
--- a/net/ipv4/ip_output.c
+++ b/net/ipv4/ip_output.c
@@ -234,7 +234,7 @@ static int ip_finish_output2(struct net *net, struct sock *sk, struct sk_buff *s
 	net_dbg_ratelimited("%s: No header cache and no neighbour!\n",
 			    __func__);
 	kfree_skb_reason(skb, SKB_DROP_REASON_NEIGH_CREATEFAIL);
-	return -EINVAL;
+	return PTR_ERR(neigh);
 }
 
 static int ip_finish_output_gso(struct net *net, struct sock *sk,