diff --git a/fs/debugfs/file.c b/fs/debugfs/file.c
index 943637298f65..a32c5c7dcfd8 100644
--- a/fs/debugfs/file.c
+++ b/fs/debugfs/file.c
@@ -178,8 +178,10 @@ static int open_proxy_open(struct inode *inode, struct file *filp)
 	if (!fops_get(real_fops)) {
 #ifdef CONFIG_MODULES
 		if (real_fops->owner &&
-		    real_fops->owner->state == MODULE_STATE_GOING)
+		    real_fops->owner->state == MODULE_STATE_GOING) {
+			r = -ENXIO;
 			goto out;
+		}
 #endif
 
 		/* Huh? Module did not clean up after itself at exit? */
@@ -313,8 +315,10 @@ static int full_proxy_open(struct inode *inode, struct file *filp)
 	if (!fops_get(real_fops)) {
 #ifdef CONFIG_MODULES
 		if (real_fops->owner &&
-		    real_fops->owner->state == MODULE_STATE_GOING)
+		    real_fops->owner->state == MODULE_STATE_GOING) {
+			r = -ENXIO;
 			goto out;
+		}
 #endif
 
 		/* Huh? Module did not cleanup after itself at exit? */