diff --git a/drivers/regulator/core.c b/drivers/regulator/core.c
index a5ad553da8cd..70168f2a53ed 100644
--- a/drivers/regulator/core.c
+++ b/drivers/regulator/core.c
@@ -5843,13 +5843,14 @@ static int regulator_late_cleanup(struct device *dev, void *data)
 	if (rdev->use_count)
 		goto unlock;
 
-	/* If we can't read the status assume it's on. */
+	/* If we can't read the status assume it's always on. */
 	if (ops->is_enabled)
 		enabled = ops->is_enabled(rdev);
 	else
 		enabled = 1;
 
-	if (!enabled)
+	/* But if reading the status failed, assume that it's off. */
+	if (enabled <= 0)
 		goto unlock;
 
 	if (have_full_constraints()) {