diff --git a/drivers/media/video/cx88/cx88-blackbird.c b/drivers/media/video/cx88/cx88-blackbird.c
index 61c4f72644b8d2e56ee391915d51409d1922c425..6c0c94c5ef91113e8b875b52f823c1e2cccb50c5 100644
--- a/drivers/media/video/cx88/cx88-blackbird.c
+++ b/drivers/media/video/cx88/cx88-blackbird.c
@@ -546,10 +546,12 @@ static int blackbird_initialize_codec(struct cx8802_dev *dev)
 		if (retval < 0)
 			return retval;
 
-		dev->mailbox = blackbird_find_mailbox(dev);
-		if (dev->mailbox < 0)
+		retval = blackbird_find_mailbox(dev);
+		if (retval < 0)
 			return -1;
 
+		dev->mailbox = retval;
+
 		retval = blackbird_api_cmd(dev, CX2341X_ENC_PING_FW, 0, 0); /* ping */
 		if (retval < 0) {
 			dprintk(0, "ERROR: Firmware ping failed!\n");