diff --git a/src/basic/cgroup-util.c b/src/basic/cgroup-util.c
index 18b16ecc0e..68b1584629 100644
--- a/src/basic/cgroup-util.c
+++ b/src/basic/cgroup-util.c
@@ -2141,15 +2141,14 @@ int cg_kernel_controllers(Set **ret) {
                 _cleanup_free_ char *controller = NULL;
                 int enabled = 0;
 
-                errno = 0;
                 if (fscanf(f, "%ms %*i %*i %i", &controller, &enabled) != 2) {
 
+                        if (ferror(f))
+                                return -errno;
+
                         if (feof(f))
                                 break;
 
-                        if (ferror(f))
-                                return errno_or_else(EIO);
-
                         return -EBADMSG;
                 }