diff --git a/drivers/soundwire/intel.c b/drivers/soundwire/intel.c
index 8a958b6cc0fe..669c8af13f55 100644
--- a/drivers/soundwire/intel.c
+++ b/drivers/soundwire/intel.c
@@ -1126,7 +1126,7 @@ static void *intel_get_sdw_stream(struct snd_soc_dai *dai,
 		dma = dai->capture_dma_data;
 
 	if (!dma)
-		return NULL;
+		return ERR_PTR(-EINVAL);
 
 	return dma->stream;
 }