diff --git a/net/core/dev.c b/net/core/dev.c
index 1f57ab1c6adf4..573d62b9cbeba 100644
--- a/net/core/dev.c
+++ b/net/core/dev.c
@@ -5368,7 +5368,10 @@ int __netdev_update_features(struct net_device *dev)
 		netdev_err(dev,
 			"set_features() failed (%d); wanted %pNF, left %pNF\n",
 			err, &features, &dev->features);
-		return 0;
+		/* return non-0 since some features might have changed and
+		 * it's better to fire a spurious notification than miss it
+		 */
+		return -1;
 	}
 
 	if (!err)