diff --git a/include/linux/thermal.h b/include/linux/thermal.h
index 17292fee868659411f6c8797cb540f978921b034..0c5518e135840517141a3ba18044a607a388721f 100644
--- a/include/linux/thermal.h
+++ b/include/linux/thermal.h
@@ -360,7 +360,7 @@ static inline struct thermal_zone_device *
 thermal_zone_of_sensor_register(struct device *dev, int id, void *data,
 				const struct thermal_zone_of_device_ops *ops)
 {
-	return NULL;
+	return ERR_PTR(-ENODEV);
 }
 
 static inline