diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath10k/mac.c b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath10k/mac.c
index 5ce4f8d038b9..c272b290fa73 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath10k/mac.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath10k/mac.c
@@ -5592,6 +5592,7 @@ static int ath10k_add_interface(struct ieee80211_hw *hw,
 
 	if (arvif->nohwcrypt &&
 	    !test_bit(ATH10K_FLAG_RAW_MODE, &ar->dev_flags)) {
+		ret = -EINVAL;
 		ath10k_warn(ar, "cryptmode module param needed for sw crypto\n");
 		goto err;
 	}