diff --git a/module/bdev/rbd/bdev_rbd.c b/module/bdev/rbd/bdev_rbd.c
index 39d4ca304..1e16f9882 100644
--- a/module/bdev/rbd/bdev_rbd.c
+++ b/module/bdev/rbd/bdev_rbd.c
@@ -330,6 +330,7 @@ bdev_rbd_init(struct bdev_rbd *rbd)
 
 	if (spdk_call_unaffinitized(bdev_rbd_init_context, rbd) == NULL) {
 		SPDK_ERRLOG("Cannot init rbd context for rbd=%p\n", rbd);
+		return -1;
 	}
 
 	return ret;