diff --git a/kernel/trace/ring_buffer.c b/kernel/trace/ring_buffer.c
index f232cf56fa05..1ac6637895a4 100644
--- a/kernel/trace/ring_buffer.c
+++ b/kernel/trace/ring_buffer.c
@@ -1091,7 +1091,7 @@ __poll_t ring_buffer_poll_wait(struct trace_buffer *buffer, int cpu,
 		full = 0;
 	} else {
 		if (!cpumask_test_cpu(cpu, buffer->cpumask))
-			return -EINVAL;
+			return EPOLLERR;
 
 		cpu_buffer = buffer->buffers[cpu];
 		work = &cpu_buffer->irq_work;