diff --git a/sys/dev/powermac_nvram/powermac_nvram.c b/sys/dev/powermac_nvram/powermac_nvram.c
index 186f80b1de1..7c6c4d2bc8a 100644
--- a/sys/dev/powermac_nvram/powermac_nvram.c
+++ b/sys/dev/powermac_nvram/powermac_nvram.c
@@ -218,7 +218,7 @@ powermac_nvram_open(struct cdev *dev, int flags, int fmt, struct thread *td)
 	sc->sc_rpos = sc->sc_wpos = 0;
 	sx_xunlock(&sc->sc_lock);
 
-	return 0;
+	return (err);
 }
 
 static int