diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/net/mptcp/diag.sh b/tools/testing/selftests/net/mptcp/diag.sh
index 400cf1ce96e3..3df4a8103c76 100755
--- a/tools/testing/selftests/net/mptcp/diag.sh
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/net/mptcp/diag.sh
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ __chk_nr()
 			echo "[ skip ] Feature probably not supported"
 		else
 			echo "[ fail ] expected $expected found $nr"
-			ret=$test_cnt
+			ret=${KSFT_FAIL}
 		fi
 	else
 		echo "[  ok  ]"
@@ -100,10 +100,10 @@ wait_msk_nr()
 	printf "%-50s" "$msg"
 	if [ $i -ge $timeout ]; then
 		echo "[ fail ] timeout while expecting $expected max $max last $nr"
-		ret=$test_cnt
+		ret=${KSFT_FAIL}
 	elif [ $nr != $expected ]; then
 		echo "[ fail ] expected $expected found $nr"
-		ret=$test_cnt
+		ret=${KSFT_FAIL}
 	else
 		echo "[  ok  ]"
 	fi