diff --git a/drivers/i2c/busses/i2c-gpio.c b/drivers/i2c/busses/i2c-gpio.c
index 3a9e840a3546..a4a6825c8758 100644
--- a/drivers/i2c/busses/i2c-gpio.c
+++ b/drivers/i2c/busses/i2c-gpio.c
@@ -348,7 +348,7 @@ static struct gpio_desc *i2c_gpio_get_desc(struct device *dev,
 	if (ret == -ENOENT)
 		retdesc = ERR_PTR(-EPROBE_DEFER);
 
-	if (ret != -EPROBE_DEFER)
+	if (PTR_ERR(retdesc) != -EPROBE_DEFER)
 		dev_err(dev, "error trying to get descriptor: %d\n", ret);
 
 	return retdesc;