diff --git a/net/ipv4/tcp_ulp.c b/net/ipv4/tcp_ulp.c
index 05b6077b9f2c..2aa442128630 100644
--- a/net/ipv4/tcp_ulp.c
+++ b/net/ipv4/tcp_ulp.c
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ static int __tcp_set_ulp(struct sock *sk, const struct tcp_ulp_ops *ulp_ops)
 	if (sk->sk_socket)
 		clear_bit(SOCK_SUPPORT_ZC, &sk->sk_socket->flags);
 
-	err = -EINVAL;
+	err = -ENOTCONN;
 	if (!ulp_ops->clone && sk->sk_state == TCP_LISTEN)
 		goto out_err;