diff --git a/drivers/atm/ambassador.c b/drivers/atm/ambassador.c
index 59651abfa4f8..b34b3829f6a9 100644
--- a/drivers/atm/ambassador.c
+++ b/drivers/atm/ambassador.c
@@ -1040,7 +1040,7 @@ static int amb_open (struct atm_vcc * atm_vcc)
   struct atm_qos * qos;
   struct atm_trafprm * txtp;
   struct atm_trafprm * rxtp;
-  u16 tx_rate_bits;
+  u16 tx_rate_bits = -1; // hush gcc
   u16 tx_vc_bits = -1; // hush gcc
   u16 tx_frame_bits = -1; // hush gcc
   
@@ -1096,6 +1096,8 @@ static int amb_open (struct atm_vcc * atm_vcc)
 	    r = round_up;
 	  }
 	  error = make_rate (pcr, r, &tx_rate_bits, NULL);
+	  if (error)
+	    return error;
 	  tx_vc_bits = TX_UBR_CAPPED;
 	  tx_frame_bits = TX_FRAME_CAPPED;
 	}