diff --git a/drivers/net/usb/ax88172a.c b/drivers/net/usb/ax88172a.c
index 6b14bce2a552..f5036451f086 100644
--- a/drivers/net/usb/ax88172a.c
+++ b/drivers/net/usb/ax88172a.c
@@ -173,9 +173,8 @@ static int ax88172a_bind(struct usbnet *dev, struct usb_interface *intf)
 
 	/* Get the MAC address */
 	ret = asix_read_cmd(dev, AX_CMD_READ_NODE_ID, 0, 0, ETH_ALEN, buf, 0);
-	if (ret < ETH_ALEN) {
+	if (ret < 0) {
 		netdev_err(dev->net, "Failed to read MAC address: %d\n", ret);
-		ret = -EIO;
 		goto free;
 	}
 	eth_hw_addr_set(dev->net, buf);