diff --git a/drivers/iio/light/ltr501.c b/drivers/iio/light/ltr501.c
index 1ef7d3773ab90b4ee54dd69656f95899daed0f56..b5a0e66b5f282f09941dddf58de1b51eed3e71c2 100644
--- a/drivers/iio/light/ltr501.c
+++ b/drivers/iio/light/ltr501.c
@@ -1302,7 +1302,7 @@ static int ltr501_init(struct ltr501_data *data)
 	if (ret < 0)
 		return ret;
 
-	data->als_contr = ret | data->chip_info->als_mode_active;
+	data->als_contr = status | data->chip_info->als_mode_active;
 
 	ret = regmap_read(data->regmap, LTR501_PS_CONTR, &status);
 	if (ret < 0)