diff --git a/drivers/usb/class/usblp.c b/drivers/usb/class/usblp.c
index 7ce43fb8118a..e195709c9c7f 100644
--- a/drivers/usb/class/usblp.c
+++ b/drivers/usb/class/usblp.c
@@ -310,8 +310,9 @@ static int usblp_check_status(struct usblp *usblp, int err)
 
 	error = usblp_read_status (usblp, usblp->statusbuf);
 	if (error < 0) {
-		err("usblp%d: error %d reading printer status",
-			usblp->minor, error);
+		if (printk_ratelimit())
+			err("usblp%d: error %d reading printer status",
+				usblp->minor, error);
 		return 0;
 	}
 
@@ -604,7 +605,9 @@ static int usblp_ioctl(struct inode *inode, struct file *file, unsigned int cmd,
 
 			case LPGETSTATUS:
 				if (usblp_read_status(usblp, usblp->statusbuf)) {
-					err("usblp%d: failed reading printer status", usblp->minor);
+					if (printk_ratelimit())
+						err("usblp%d: failed reading printer status",
+							usblp->minor);
 					retval = -EIO;
 					goto done;
 				}