diff --git a/drivers/media/dvb-frontends/sp8870.c b/drivers/media/dvb-frontends/sp8870.c
index ee893a2f22614..9767159aeb9b2 100644
--- a/drivers/media/dvb-frontends/sp8870.c
+++ b/drivers/media/dvb-frontends/sp8870.c
@@ -280,7 +280,9 @@ static int sp8870_set_frontend_parameters(struct dvb_frontend *fe)
 	sp8870_writereg(state, 0xc05, reg0xc05);
 
 	// read status reg in order to clear pending irqs
-	sp8870_readreg(state, 0x200);
+	err = sp8870_readreg(state, 0x200);
+	if (err < 0)
+		return err;
 
 	// system controller start
 	sp8870_microcontroller_start(state);