diff --git a/drivers/usb/core/driver.c b/drivers/usb/core/driver.c
index f58a0299fb3bd..1dc0c04130438 100644
--- a/drivers/usb/core/driver.c
+++ b/drivers/usb/core/driver.c
@@ -290,7 +290,10 @@ static int usb_probe_device(struct device *dev)
 	 * specialised device drivers prior to setting the
 	 * use_generic_driver bit.
 	 */
-	error = udriver->probe(udev);
+	if (udriver->probe)
+		error = udriver->probe(udev);
+	else if (!udriver->generic_subclass)
+		error = -EINVAL;
 	if (error == -ENODEV && udriver != &usb_generic_driver &&
 	    (udriver->id_table || udriver->match)) {
 		udev->use_generic_driver = 1;