diff --git a/arch/um/drivers/chan_user.c b/arch/um/drivers/chan_user.c
index 4d80526a4236..d8845d4aac6a 100644
--- a/arch/um/drivers/chan_user.c
+++ b/arch/um/drivers/chan_user.c
@@ -26,10 +26,10 @@ int generic_read(int fd, char *c_out, void *unused)
 	n = read(fd, c_out, sizeof(*c_out));
 	if (n > 0)
 		return n;
-	else if (errno == EAGAIN)
-		return 0;
 	else if (n == 0)
 		return -EIO;
+	else if (errno == EAGAIN)
+		return 0;
 	return -errno;
 }