diff --git a/net/xfrm/xfrm_output.c b/net/xfrm/xfrm_output.c
index bcfda8921b5b..0cf003dfa8fc 100644
--- a/net/xfrm/xfrm_output.c
+++ b/net/xfrm/xfrm_output.c
@@ -64,6 +64,7 @@ static int xfrm_output_one(struct sk_buff *skb, int err)
 
 		if (unlikely(x->km.state != XFRM_STATE_VALID)) {
 			XFRM_INC_STATS(net, LINUX_MIB_XFRMOUTSTATEINVALID);
+			err = -EINVAL;
 			goto error;
 		}