diff --git a/drivers/base/driver.c b/drivers/base/driver.c
index ba912558a5108087f3b169217424a67c0bcaf4f3..857c8f1b876e565a5f7d1130a10351880b8ecd51 100644
--- a/drivers/base/driver.c
+++ b/drivers/base/driver.c
@@ -148,7 +148,11 @@ int driver_register(struct device_driver *drv)
 	int ret;
 	struct device_driver *other;
 
-	BUG_ON(!drv->bus->p);
+	if (!drv->bus->p) {
+		pr_err("Driver '%s' was unable to register with bus_type '%s' because the bus was not initialized.\n",
+			   drv->name, drv->bus->name);
+		return -EINVAL;
+	}
 
 	if ((drv->bus->probe && drv->probe) ||
 	    (drv->bus->remove && drv->remove) ||