diff --git a/lib/librte_eal/common/eal_common_proc.c b/lib/librte_eal/common/eal_common_proc.c
index 7195d573c2..cfd571e4f8 100644
--- a/lib/librte_eal/common/eal_common_proc.c
+++ b/lib/librte_eal/common/eal_common_proc.c
@@ -1066,7 +1066,8 @@ rte_mp_request_async(struct rte_mp_msg *req, const struct timespec *ts,
 
 	if (internal_config.no_shconf) {
 		RTE_LOG(DEBUG, EAL, "No shared files mode enabled, IPC is disabled\n");
-		return 0;
+		rte_errno = ENOTSUP;
+		return -1;
 	}
 
 	if (gettimeofday(&now, NULL) < 0) {
diff --git a/lib/librte_eal/common/include/rte_eal.h b/lib/librte_eal/common/include/rte_eal.h
index 9cd66fe9fc..cf701e177d 100644
--- a/lib/librte_eal/common/include/rte_eal.h
+++ b/lib/librte_eal/common/include/rte_eal.h
@@ -361,6 +361,9 @@ rte_mp_request_sync(struct rte_mp_msg *req, struct rte_mp_reply *reply,
  * This function sends a request message to the peer process, and will not
  * block. Instead, reply will be received in a separate callback.
  *
+ * @note IPC may be unsupported in certain circumstances, so caller should check
+ *    for ENOTSUP error.
+ *
  * @param req
  *   The req argument contains the customized request message.
  *