diff --git a/net/nfc/netlink.c b/net/nfc/netlink.c
index 4c95319dc22b6..23a6e01f35edd 100644
--- a/net/nfc/netlink.c
+++ b/net/nfc/netlink.c
@@ -922,7 +922,7 @@ static int nfc_genl_activate_target(struct sk_buff *skb, struct genl_info *info)
 	rc = nfc_activate_target(dev, target_idx, protocol);
 
 	nfc_put_device(dev);
-	return 0;
+	return rc;
 }
 
 static int nfc_genl_dep_link_up(struct sk_buff *skb, struct genl_info *info)