diff --git a/sound/aoa/codecs/onyx.c b/sound/aoa/codecs/onyx.c
index db917546965d..9827bee109c1 100644
--- a/sound/aoa/codecs/onyx.c
+++ b/sound/aoa/codecs/onyx.c
@@ -71,8 +71,10 @@ static int onyx_read_register(struct onyx *onyx, u8 reg, u8 *value)
 		return 0;
 	}
 	v = i2c_smbus_read_byte_data(onyx->i2c, reg);
-	if (v < 0)
+	if (v < 0) {
+		*value = 0;
 		return -1;
+	}
 	*value = (u8)v;
 	onyx->cache[ONYX_REG_CONTROL-FIRSTREGISTER] = *value;
 	return 0;