diff --git a/kernel/kmod.c b/kernel/kmod.c
index bc6addd9152b..a2de58de6ab6 100644
--- a/kernel/kmod.c
+++ b/kernel/kmod.c
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ out:
  * invoke it.
  *
  * If module auto-loading support is disabled then this function
- * becomes a no-operation.
+ * simply returns -ENOENT.
  */
 int __request_module(bool wait, const char *fmt, ...)
 {
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ int __request_module(bool wait, const char *fmt, ...)
 	WARN_ON_ONCE(wait && current_is_async());
 
 	if (!modprobe_path[0])
-		return 0;
+		return -ENOENT;
 
 	va_start(args, fmt);
 	ret = vsnprintf(module_name, MODULE_NAME_LEN, fmt, args);