diff --git a/drivers/md/dm-ioctl.c b/drivers/md/dm-ioctl.c
index 446d76e14c58..f4fd4a45a9fb 100644
--- a/drivers/md/dm-ioctl.c
+++ b/drivers/md/dm-ioctl.c
@@ -1549,6 +1549,7 @@ static int target_message(struct dm_ioctl *param, size_t param_size)
 
 	if (!argc) {
 		DMWARN("Empty message received.");
+		r = -EINVAL;
 		goto out_argv;
 	}