diff --git a/drivers/cpufreq/acpi-cpufreq.c b/drivers/cpufreq/acpi-cpufreq.c
index d2c3253e015e..506fd23c7550 100644
--- a/drivers/cpufreq/acpi-cpufreq.c
+++ b/drivers/cpufreq/acpi-cpufreq.c
@@ -986,12 +986,12 @@ static int __init acpi_cpufreq_init(void)
 {
 	int ret;
 
+	if (acpi_disabled)
+		return -ENODEV;
+
 	/* don't keep reloading if cpufreq_driver exists */
 	if (cpufreq_get_current_driver())
-		return 0;
-
-	if (acpi_disabled)
-		return 0;
+		return -EEXIST;
 
 	pr_debug("acpi_cpufreq_init\n");