diff --git a/fs/namespace.c b/fs/namespace.c
index 9ddc86f93221f..cab78a74aca35 100644
--- a/fs/namespace.c
+++ b/fs/namespace.c
@@ -2775,7 +2775,7 @@ static int mntns_install(struct nsproxy *nsproxy, void *ns)
 
 	if (!ns_capable(mnt_ns->user_ns, CAP_SYS_ADMIN) ||
 	    !nsown_capable(CAP_SYS_CHROOT))
-		return -EINVAL;
+		return -EPERM;
 
 	if (fs->users != 1)
 		return -EINVAL;