diff --git a/net/can/can_sockif.c b/net/can/can_sockif.c
index ea050de3754..fcdc4af07f3 100644
--- a/net/can/can_sockif.c
+++ b/net/can/can_sockif.c
@@ -340,7 +340,7 @@ static int can_bind(FAR struct socket *psock,
   conn->dev = netdev_findbyname((const char *)&netdev_name);
 #endif
 
-  return OK;
+  return conn->dev == NULL ? -ENODEV : OK;
 }
 
 /****************************************************************************