diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/resctrl/mba_test.c b/tools/testing/selftests/resctrl/mba_test.c
index f32289ae17ae..97dc98c0c949 100644
--- a/tools/testing/selftests/resctrl/mba_test.c
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/resctrl/mba_test.c
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ static int mba_setup(int num, ...)
 	struct resctrl_val_param *p;
 	char allocation_str[64];
 	va_list param;
+	int ret;
 
 	va_start(param, num);
 	p = va_arg(param, struct resctrl_val_param *);
@@ -45,7 +46,11 @@ static int mba_setup(int num, ...)
 
 	sprintf(allocation_str, "%d", allocation);
 
-	write_schemata(p->ctrlgrp, allocation_str, p->cpu_no, p->resctrl_val);
+	ret = write_schemata(p->ctrlgrp, allocation_str, p->cpu_no,
+			     p->resctrl_val);
+	if (ret < 0)
+		return ret;
+
 	allocation -= ALLOCATION_STEP;
 
 	return 0;