diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/netronome/nfp/nfp_net_main.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/netronome/nfp/nfp_net_main.c
index 5797dbf2b50779583e0a27e1fee02ce85b8feebb..d5e2361f0e86ee7351e9161b9da774119e711e55 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/netronome/nfp/nfp_net_main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/netronome/nfp/nfp_net_main.c
@@ -704,7 +704,7 @@ int nfp_net_pci_probe(struct nfp_pf *pf)
 	if (!pf->rtbl) {
 		nfp_err(pf->cpp, "No %s, giving up.\n",
 			pf->fw_loaded ? "symbol table" : "firmware found");
-		return -EPROBE_DEFER;
+		return -EINVAL;
 	}
 
 	mutex_lock(&pf->lock);