diff --git a/lib/eal/freebsd/eal.c b/lib/eal/freebsd/eal.c
index 2c2baaa691..5cea368efe 100644
--- a/lib/eal/freebsd/eal.c
+++ b/lib/eal/freebsd/eal.c
@@ -1045,7 +1045,7 @@ int rte_vfio_noiommu_is_enabled(void)
 
 int rte_vfio_clear_group(__rte_unused int vfio_group_fd)
 {
-	return 0;
+	return -1;
 }
 
 int