diff --git a/sys/netsmb/smb_dev.c b/sys/netsmb/smb_dev.c
index 17994cff67a..d3ed95a8ae4 100644
--- a/sys/netsmb/smb_dev.c
+++ b/sys/netsmb/smb_dev.c
@@ -346,7 +346,8 @@ nsmb_dev_load(module_t mod, int cmd, void *arg)
 	    case MOD_UNLOAD:
 		smb_iod_done();
 		error = smb_sm_done();
-		error = 0;
+		if (error)
+			break;
 		EVENTHANDLER_DEREGISTER(dev_clone, nsmb_dev_tag);
 		printf("netsmb_dev: unloaded\n");
 		break;