diff --git a/network.c b/network.c
index 361d84d9a..3319d1f4f 100644
--- a/network.c
+++ b/network.c
@@ -1484,7 +1484,7 @@ struct iio_context * network_create_context(const char *host)
 
 	fd = create_socket(res, DEFAULT_TIMEOUT_MS);
 	if (fd < 0) {
-		errno = fd;
+		errno = -fd;
 		goto err_free_addrinfo;
 	}