diff --git a/drivers/fpga/machxo2-spi.c b/drivers/fpga/machxo2-spi.c
index 2fd097c3994b..37e54e375528 100644
--- a/drivers/fpga/machxo2-spi.c
+++ b/drivers/fpga/machxo2-spi.c
@@ -334,6 +334,7 @@ static int machxo2_write_complete(struct fpga_manager *mgr,
 			break;
 		if (++refreshloop == MACHXO2_MAX_REFRESH_LOOP) {
 			machxo2_cleanup(mgr);
+			ret = -EINVAL;
 			goto fail;
 		}
 	} while (1);