diff --git a/drivers/regulator/core.c b/drivers/regulator/core.c
index f3e98005038f..55dafde400df 100644
--- a/drivers/regulator/core.c
+++ b/drivers/regulator/core.c
@@ -1924,6 +1924,8 @@ static struct regulator *create_regulator(struct regulator_dev *rdev,
 
 	if (err != -EEXIST)
 		regulator->debugfs = debugfs_create_dir(supply_name, rdev->debugfs);
+	else
+		regulator->debugfs = ERR_PTR(err);
 	if (IS_ERR(regulator->debugfs))
 		rdev_dbg(rdev, "Failed to create debugfs directory\n");