diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/i2c/tda998x_drv.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/i2c/tda998x_drv.c
index e62082654e01..c37180abcc4b 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/i2c/tda998x_drv.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/i2c/tda998x_drv.c
@@ -1144,6 +1144,8 @@ tda998x_encoder_init(struct i2c_client *client,
 
 	priv->current_page = 0;
 	priv->cec = i2c_new_dummy(client->adapter, 0x34);
+	if (!priv->cec)
+		return -ENODEV;
 	priv->dpms = DRM_MODE_DPMS_OFF;
 
 	encoder_slave->slave_priv = priv;