diff --git a/drivers/iio/proximity/pulsedlight-lidar-lite-v2.c b/drivers/iio/proximity/pulsedlight-lidar-lite-v2.c
index 93e29fb67fa00f94e9ca0a614addfc5cde7ebb76..db35e04a063767a9b2b6011cf3d0345c9d0929bd 100644
--- a/drivers/iio/proximity/pulsedlight-lidar-lite-v2.c
+++ b/drivers/iio/proximity/pulsedlight-lidar-lite-v2.c
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ static int lidar_i2c_xfer(struct lidar_data *data, u8 reg, u8 *val, int len)
 
 	ret = i2c_transfer(client->adapter, msg, 2);
 
-	return (ret == 2) ? 0 : ret;
+	return (ret == 2) ? 0 : -EIO;
 }
 
 static int lidar_smbus_xfer(struct lidar_data *data, u8 reg, u8 *val, int len)