diff --git a/drivers/base/core.c b/drivers/base/core.c
index 25e08e5f40bd..51b9545a050b 100644
--- a/drivers/base/core.c
+++ b/drivers/base/core.c
@@ -4433,7 +4433,7 @@ void set_primary_fwnode(struct device *dev, struct fwnode_handle *fwnode)
 		if (fwnode_is_primary(fn)) {
 			dev->fwnode = fn->secondary;
 			if (!(parent && fn == parent->fwnode))
-				fn->secondary = ERR_PTR(-ENODEV);
+				fn->secondary = NULL;
 		} else {
 			dev->fwnode = NULL;
 		}