diff --git a/drivers/mailbox/mailbox.c b/drivers/mailbox/mailbox.c
index 19b491d..c3c42d4 100644
--- a/drivers/mailbox/mailbox.c
+++ b/drivers/mailbox/mailbox.c
@@ -318,7 +318,7 @@
 		return ERR_PTR(-ENODEV);
 	}
 
-	chan = NULL;
+	chan = ERR_PTR(-EPROBE_DEFER);
 	list_for_each_entry(mbox, &mbox_cons, node)
 		if (mbox->dev->of_node == spec.np) {
 			chan = mbox->of_xlate(mbox, &spec);
@@ -327,7 +327,12 @@
 
 	of_node_put(spec.np);
 
-	if (!chan || chan->cl || !try_module_get(mbox->dev->driver->owner)) {
+	if (IS_ERR(chan)) {
+		mutex_unlock(&con_mutex);
+		return chan;
+	}
+
+	if (chan->cl || !try_module_get(mbox->dev->driver->owner)) {
 		dev_dbg(dev, "%s: mailbox not free\n", __func__);
 		mutex_unlock(&con_mutex);
 		return ERR_PTR(-EBUSY);
@@ -390,7 +395,7 @@
 	int ind = sp->args[0];
 
 	if (ind >= mbox->num_chans)
-		return NULL;
+		return ERR_PTR(-EINVAL);
 
 	return &mbox->chans[ind];
 }