diff --git a/include/linux/device.h b/include/linux/device.h
index d4612efaab82..0b3dc72f64b2 100644
--- a/include/linux/device.h
+++ b/include/linux/device.h
@@ -931,7 +931,7 @@ void device_links_supplier_sync_state_pause(void);
 void device_links_supplier_sync_state_resume(void);
 
 extern __printf(3, 4)
-int dev_err_probe(const struct device *dev, int err, const char *fmt, ...);
+int __must_check dev_err_probe(const struct device *dev, int err, const char *fmt, ...);
 
 /* Create alias, so I can be autoloaded. */
 #define MODULE_ALIAS_CHARDEV(major,minor) \