diff --git a/drivers/spi/spi-bitbang.c b/drivers/spi/spi-bitbang.c
index f29176000b8d..06cf9388e74f 100644
--- a/drivers/spi/spi-bitbang.c
+++ b/drivers/spi/spi-bitbang.c
@@ -416,7 +416,7 @@ int spi_bitbang_start(struct spi_bitbang *bitbang)
 	if (ret)
 		spi_master_put(master);
 
-	return 0;
+	return ret;
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(spi_bitbang_start);