diff --git a/drivers/media/dvb/siano/smscoreapi.c b/drivers/media/dvb/siano/smscoreapi.c
index 78765ed280631126abdabca42035eff8fe95dcc5..7331e8450d1a7d96caa64b2ba88e3d13be622b6f 100644
--- a/drivers/media/dvb/siano/smscoreapi.c
+++ b/drivers/media/dvb/siano/smscoreapi.c
@@ -1147,7 +1147,7 @@ static int smscore_validate_client(struct smscore_device_t *coredev,
 
 	if (!client) {
 		sms_err("bad parameter.");
-		return -EFAULT;
+		return -EINVAL;
 	}
 	registered_client = smscore_find_client(coredev, data_type, id);
 	if (registered_client == client)