diff --git a/lib/thread/thread.c b/lib/thread/thread.c
index 5ccd28d96..d9159b1a6 100644
--- a/lib/thread/thread.c
+++ b/lib/thread/thread.c
@@ -256,7 +256,7 @@ _thread_lib_init(size_t ctx_sz, size_t msg_mempool_sz)
 
 	if (!g_spdk_msg_mempool) {
 		SPDK_ERRLOG("spdk_msg_mempool creation failed\n");
-		return -1;
+		return -ENOMEM;
 	}
 
 	return 0;