diff --git a/net/core/netdev-genl.c b/net/core/netdev-genl.c
index 2d3ae0cd3ad2..b0772d135efb 100644
--- a/net/core/netdev-genl.c
+++ b/net/core/netdev-genl.c
@@ -246,8 +246,12 @@ int netdev_nl_napi_get_doit(struct sk_buff *skb, struct genl_info *info)
 	rcu_read_unlock();
 	rtnl_unlock();
 
-	if (err)
+	if (err) {
 		goto err_free_msg;
+	} else if (!rsp->len) {
+		err = -ENOENT;
+		goto err_free_msg;
+	}
 
 	return genlmsg_reply(rsp, info);