diff --git a/drivers/usb/serial/ark3116.c b/drivers/usb/serial/ark3116.c
index 1532cde8a437b..7812052dc7001 100644
--- a/drivers/usb/serial/ark3116.c
+++ b/drivers/usb/serial/ark3116.c
@@ -99,10 +99,17 @@ static int ark3116_read_reg(struct usb_serial *serial,
 				 usb_rcvctrlpipe(serial->dev, 0),
 				 0xfe, 0xc0, 0, reg,
 				 buf, 1, ARK_TIMEOUT);
-	if (result < 0)
+	if (result < 1) {
+		dev_err(&serial->interface->dev,
+				"failed to read register %u: %d\n",
+				reg, result);
+		if (result >= 0)
+			result = -EIO;
+
 		return result;
-	else
-		return buf[0];
+	}
+
+	return buf[0];
 }
 
 static inline int calc_divisor(int bps)