diff --git a/drivers/net/softnic/rte_eth_softnic_link.c b/drivers/net/softnic/rte_eth_softnic_link.c
index d669913a4d..21a64069f6 100644
--- a/drivers/net/softnic/rte_eth_softnic_link.c
+++ b/drivers/net/softnic/rte_eth_softnic_link.c
@@ -57,6 +57,7 @@ softnic_link_create(struct pmd_internals *p,
 	struct rte_eth_dev_info port_info;
 	struct softnic_link *link;
 	uint16_t port_id;
+	int ret;
 
 	/* Check input params */
 	if (name == NULL ||
@@ -78,7 +79,9 @@ softnic_link_create(struct pmd_internals *p,
 			return NULL;
 	}
 
-	rte_eth_dev_info_get(port_id, &port_info);
+	ret = rte_eth_dev_info_get(port_id, &port_info);
+	if (ret != 0)
+		return NULL;
 
 	/* Node allocation */
 	link = calloc(1, sizeof(struct softnic_link));