diff --git a/drivers/block/sunvdc.c b/drivers/block/sunvdc.c
index 6b2fd630de85..6622dd1aa07b 100644
--- a/drivers/block/sunvdc.c
+++ b/drivers/block/sunvdc.c
@@ -983,6 +983,8 @@ static int vdc_port_probe(struct vio_dev *vdev, const struct vio_device_id *id)
 	print_version();
 
 	hp = mdesc_grab();
+	if (!hp)
+		return -ENODEV;
 
 	err = -ENODEV;
 	if ((vdev->dev_no << PARTITION_SHIFT) & ~(u64)MINORMASK) {