diff --git a/drivers/thermal/spear_thermal.c b/drivers/thermal/spear_thermal.c
index be94413b95a3..c2e32df3b164 100644
--- a/drivers/thermal/spear_thermal.c
+++ b/drivers/thermal/spear_thermal.c
@@ -149,9 +149,9 @@ static int spear_thermal_probe(struct platform_device *pdev)
 
 	spear_thermal = thermal_zone_device_register("spear_thermal", 0,
 				stdev, &ops, 0, 0, 0, 0);
-	if (!spear_thermal) {
+	if (IS_ERR(spear_thermal)) {
 		dev_err(&pdev->dev, "thermal zone device is NULL\n");
-		ret = -EINVAL;
+		ret = PTR_ERR(spear_thermal);
 		goto disable_clk;
 	}