diff --git a/drivers/base/core.c b/drivers/base/core.c
index c852f16c111b..41feab679fa1 100644
--- a/drivers/base/core.c
+++ b/drivers/base/core.c
@@ -4278,7 +4278,7 @@ void set_primary_fwnode(struct device *dev, struct fwnode_handle *fwnode)
 	} else {
 		if (fwnode_is_primary(fn)) {
 			dev->fwnode = fn->secondary;
-			fn->secondary = NULL;
+			fn->secondary = ERR_PTR(-ENODEV);
 		} else {
 			dev->fwnode = NULL;
 		}