diff --git a/tools/perf/util/probe-event.c b/tools/perf/util/probe-event.c
index 7f9b863..94a717b 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/probe-event.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/probe-event.c
@@ -2052,9 +2052,11 @@ static int write_probe_trace_event(int fd, struct probe_trace_event *tev)
 	pr_debug("Writing event: %s\n", buf);
 	if (!probe_event_dry_run) {
 		ret = write(fd, buf, strlen(buf));
-		if (ret <= 0)
+		if (ret <= 0) {
+			ret = -errno;
 			pr_warning("Failed to write event: %s\n",
 				   strerror_r(errno, sbuf, sizeof(sbuf)));
+		}
 	}
 	free(buf);
 	return ret;