diff --git a/src/libmsc/smpp_smsc.c b/src/libmsc/smpp_smsc.c
index 4581865b9..6712032f3 100644
--- a/src/libmsc/smpp_smsc.c
+++ b/src/libmsc/smpp_smsc.c
@@ -888,7 +888,7 @@ dead_socket:
 		esme->acl->esme = NULL;
 	smpp_esme_put(esme);
 
-	return 0;
+	return -EBADF;
 }
 
 /* call-back of write queue once it wishes to write a message to the socket */