diff --git a/fs/fuse/backing.c b/fs/fuse/backing.c
index 49b848e4462d..9f78384b021f 100644
--- a/fs/fuse/backing.c
+++ b/fs/fuse/backing.c
@@ -1176,8 +1176,10 @@ int fuse_lookup_backing(struct fuse_bpf_args *fa, struct inode *dir,
 		.mnt = mntget(dir_fuse_entry->backing_path.mnt),
 	};
 
-	if (d_is_negative(backing_entry))
+	if (d_is_negative(backing_entry)) {
+		fa->error_in = -ENOENT;
 		return 0;
+	}
 
 	err = vfs_getattr(&fuse_entry->backing_path, &stat,
 				  STATX_BASIC_STATS, 0);