diff --git a/drivers/hwmon/tmp421.c b/drivers/hwmon/tmp421.c
index 8fd8c3a94dfe..c9ef83627bb7 100644
--- a/drivers/hwmon/tmp421.c
+++ b/drivers/hwmon/tmp421.c
@@ -179,10 +179,10 @@ static int tmp421_read(struct device *dev, enum hwmon_sensor_types type,
 		return 0;
 	case hwmon_temp_fault:
 		/*
-		 * The OPEN bit signals a fault. This is bit 0 of the temperature
-		 * register (low byte).
+		 * Any of OPEN or /PVLD bits indicate a hardware mulfunction
+		 * and the conversion result may be incorrect
 		 */
-		*val = tmp421->temp[channel] & 0x01;
+		*val = !!(tmp421->temp[channel] & 0x03);
 		return 0;
 	default:
 		return -EOPNOTSUPP;
@@ -195,9 +195,6 @@ static umode_t tmp421_is_visible(const void *data, enum hwmon_sensor_types type,
 {
 	switch (attr) {
 	case hwmon_temp_fault:
-		if (channel == 0)
-			return 0;
-		return 0444;
 	case hwmon_temp_input:
 		return 0444;
 	default: