diff --git a/drivers/md/persistent-data/dm-space-map-metadata.c b/drivers/md/persistent-data/dm-space-map-metadata.c
index 4aed69d9dd17..b23cac2c4738 100644
--- a/drivers/md/persistent-data/dm-space-map-metadata.c
+++ b/drivers/md/persistent-data/dm-space-map-metadata.c
@@ -248,7 +248,7 @@ static int out(struct sm_metadata *smm)
 	}
 
 	if (smm->recursion_count == 1)
-		apply_bops(smm);
+		r = apply_bops(smm);
 
 	smm->recursion_count--;