diff --git a/src/device.c b/src/device.c
index c24d7ed1..171a11b6 100644
--- a/src/device.c
+++ b/src/device.c
@@ -420,7 +420,7 @@ static int device_init(void)
 					IWD_DEVICE_INTERFACE,
 					setup_device_interface,
 					destroy_device_interface, false))
-		return false;
+		return -EPERM;
 
 	netdev_watch = netdev_watch_add(device_netdev_notify, NULL, NULL);