diff --git a/lustre/lov/lov_obd.c b/lustre/lov/lov_obd.c
index 32f64862b6261ae7149ef68db36886ce204f2027..1ceaf617454b9e84ef4ffc5c42f86a8f2f2d5336 100644
--- a/lustre/lov/lov_obd.c
+++ b/lustre/lov/lov_obd.c
@@ -1110,11 +1110,13 @@ static int lov_clear_orphans(struct obd_export *export, struct obdo *src_oa,
                 /* XXX: LOV STACKING: use real "obj_mdp" sub-data */
                 err = obd_create(lov->lov_tgts[i]->ltd_exp, 
                                  tmp_oa, &obj_mdp, oti);
-                if (err)
+                if (err) {
                         /* This export will be disabled until it is recovered,
                            and then orphan recovery will be completed. */
                         CERROR("error in orphan recovery on OST idx %d/%d: "
                                "rc = %d\n", i, lov->desc.ld_tgt_count, err);
+                        rc = err;
+                }
 
                 if (ost_uuid)
                         break;