diff --git a/drivers/nvme/host/pci.c b/drivers/nvme/host/pci.c
index 092c8403b306..d308ae7e2e11 100644
--- a/drivers/nvme/host/pci.c
+++ b/drivers/nvme/host/pci.c
@@ -2517,6 +2517,7 @@ static void nvme_reset_work(struct work_struct *work)
 	if (!nvme_change_ctrl_state(&dev->ctrl, NVME_CTRL_CONNECTING)) {
 		dev_warn(dev->ctrl.device,
 			"failed to mark controller CONNECTING\n");
+		result = -EBUSY;
 		goto out;
 	}