diff --git a/net/ipv6/addrconf.c b/net/ipv6/addrconf.c
index 521e471f1cf9..8eeec6eb2bd3 100644
--- a/net/ipv6/addrconf.c
+++ b/net/ipv6/addrconf.c
@@ -4736,8 +4736,8 @@ inet6_rtm_newaddr(struct sk_buff *skb, struct nlmsghdr *nlh,
 			 IFA_F_MCAUTOJOIN | IFA_F_OPTIMISTIC;
 
 	idev = ipv6_find_idev(dev);
-	if (IS_ERR(idev))
-		return PTR_ERR(idev);
+	if (!idev)
+		return -ENOBUFS;
 
 	if (!ipv6_allow_optimistic_dad(net, idev))
 		cfg.ifa_flags &= ~IFA_F_OPTIMISTIC;