diff --git a/drivers/hwmon/ltc2947-core.c b/drivers/hwmon/ltc2947-core.c
index bb3f7749a0b001..5423466de697af 100644
--- a/drivers/hwmon/ltc2947-core.c
+++ b/drivers/hwmon/ltc2947-core.c
@@ -989,8 +989,12 @@ static int ltc2947_setup(struct ltc2947_data *st)
 		return ret;
 
 	/* check external clock presence */
-	extclk = devm_clk_get(st->dev, NULL);
-	if (!IS_ERR(extclk)) {
+	extclk = devm_clk_get_optional(st->dev, NULL);
+	if (IS_ERR(extclk))
+		return dev_err_probe(st->dev, PTR_ERR(extclk),
+				     "Failed to get external clock\n");
+
+	if (extclk) {
 		unsigned long rate_hz;
 		u8 pre = 0, div, tbctl;
 		u64 aux;