diff --git a/drivers/usb/class/usblp.c b/drivers/usb/class/usblp.c
index 084c48c5848f..67cbd42421be 100644
--- a/drivers/usb/class/usblp.c
+++ b/drivers/usb/class/usblp.c
@@ -827,6 +827,11 @@ static ssize_t usblp_read(struct file *file, char __user *buffer, size_t len, lo
 	if (rv < 0)
 		return rv;
 
+	if (!usblp->present) {
+		count = -ENODEV;
+		goto done;
+	}
+
 	if ((avail = usblp->rstatus) < 0) {
 		printk(KERN_ERR "usblp%d: error %d reading from printer\n",
 		    usblp->minor, (int)avail);