diff --git a/fs/overlayfs/dir.c b/fs/overlayfs/dir.c
index 1d59c466d199..e8c7df070fed 100644
--- a/fs/overlayfs/dir.c
+++ b/fs/overlayfs/dir.c
@@ -191,7 +191,7 @@ struct dentry *ovl_create_real(struct inode *dir, struct dentry *newdentry,
 		 * Not quite sure if non-instantiated dentry is legal or not.
 		 * VFS doesn't seem to care so check and warn here.
 		 */
-		err = -ENOENT;
+		err = -EIO;
 	}
 out:
 	if (err) {