diff --git a/drivers/usb/misc/legousbtower.c b/drivers/usb/misc/legousbtower.c
index 006cf13b2199..1db07d4dc738 100644
--- a/drivers/usb/misc/legousbtower.c
+++ b/drivers/usb/misc/legousbtower.c
@@ -891,8 +891,10 @@ static int tower_probe (struct usb_interface *interface, const struct usb_device
 				  get_version_reply,
 				  sizeof(*get_version_reply),
 				  1000);
-	if (result < 0) {
-		dev_err(idev, "LEGO USB Tower get version control request failed\n");
+	if (result < sizeof(*get_version_reply)) {
+		if (result >= 0)
+			result = -EIO;
+		dev_err(idev, "get version request failed: %d\n", result);
 		retval = result;
 		goto error;
 	}