diff --git a/drivers/base/firmware_loader/fallback.c b/drivers/base/firmware_loader/fallback.c
index b5cd96fd0e77..29becea1910d 100644
--- a/drivers/base/firmware_loader/fallback.c
+++ b/drivers/base/firmware_loader/fallback.c
@@ -659,7 +659,7 @@ static bool fw_run_sysfs_fallback(enum fw_opt opt_flags)
 	/* Also permit LSMs and IMA to fail firmware sysfs fallback */
 	ret = security_kernel_load_data(LOADING_FIRMWARE);
 	if (ret < 0)
-		return ret;
+		return false;
 
 	return fw_force_sysfs_fallback(opt_flags);
 }