diff --git a/drivers/i2c/rcar_i2c.c b/drivers/i2c/rcar_i2c.c
index a88fbcf34f..9223eaecbf 100644
--- a/drivers/i2c/rcar_i2c.c
+++ b/drivers/i2c/rcar_i2c.c
@@ -221,7 +221,7 @@ static int rcar_i2c_xfer(struct udevice *dev, struct i2c_msg *msg, int nmsgs)
 			ret = rcar_i2c_write_common(dev, msg);
 
 		if (ret)
-			return -EREMOTEIO;
+			return ret;
 	}
 
 	return ret;