diff --git a/drivers/net/bnx2x/bnx2x_ethdev.c b/drivers/net/bnx2x/bnx2x_ethdev.c
index a0b0dfa..6b80c96 100644
--- a/drivers/net/bnx2x/bnx2x_ethdev.c
+++ b/drivers/net/bnx2x/bnx2x_ethdev.c
@@ -449,14 +449,17 @@ bnx2x_dev_infos_get(struct rte_eth_dev *dev, __rte_unused struct rte_eth_dev_inf
 	dev_info->speed_capa = ETH_LINK_SPEED_10G | ETH_LINK_SPEED_20G;
 }
 
-static void
+static int
 bnx2x_mac_addr_add(struct rte_eth_dev *dev, struct ether_addr *mac_addr,
 		uint32_t index, uint32_t pool)
 {
 	struct bnx2x_softc *sc = dev->data->dev_private;
 
-	if (sc->mac_ops.mac_addr_add)
+	if (sc->mac_ops.mac_addr_add) {
 		sc->mac_ops.mac_addr_add(dev, mac_addr, index, pool);
+		return 0;
+	}
+	return -ENOTSUP;
 }
 
 static void
diff --git a/drivers/net/bnxt/bnxt_ethdev.c b/drivers/net/bnxt/bnxt_ethdev.c
index 6167443..9cb2667 100644
--- a/drivers/net/bnxt/bnxt_ethdev.c
+++ b/drivers/net/bnxt/bnxt_ethdev.c
@@ -613,7 +613,7 @@ static void bnxt_mac_addr_remove_op(struct rte_eth_dev *eth_dev,
 	}
 }
 
-static void bnxt_mac_addr_add_op(struct rte_eth_dev *eth_dev,
+static int bnxt_mac_addr_add_op(struct rte_eth_dev *eth_dev,
 				 struct ether_addr *mac_addr,
 				 uint32_t index, uint32_t pool)
 {
@@ -623,30 +623,30 @@ static void bnxt_mac_addr_add_op(struct rte_eth_dev *eth_dev,
 
 	if (BNXT_VF(bp)) {
 		RTE_LOG(ERR, PMD, "Cannot add MAC address to a VF interface\n");
-		return;
+		return -ENOTSUP;
 	}
 
 	if (!vnic) {
 		RTE_LOG(ERR, PMD, "VNIC not found for pool %d!\n", pool);
-		return;
+		return -EINVAL;
 	}
 	/* Attach requested MAC address to the new l2_filter */
 	STAILQ_FOREACH(filter, &vnic->filter, next) {
 		if (filter->mac_index == index) {
 			RTE_LOG(ERR, PMD,
 				"MAC addr already existed for pool %d\n", pool);
-			return;
+			return -EINVAL;
 		}
 	}
 	filter = bnxt_alloc_filter(bp);
 	if (!filter) {
 		RTE_LOG(ERR, PMD, "L2 filter alloc failed\n");
-		return;
+		return -ENODEV;
 	}
 	STAILQ_INSERT_TAIL(&vnic->filter, filter, next);
 	filter->mac_index = index;
 	memcpy(filter->l2_addr, mac_addr, ETHER_ADDR_LEN);
-	bnxt_hwrm_set_filter(bp, vnic, filter);
+	return bnxt_hwrm_set_filter(bp, vnic, filter);
 }
 
 int bnxt_link_update_op(struct rte_eth_dev *eth_dev, int wait_to_complete)
diff --git a/drivers/net/e1000/base/e1000_api.c b/drivers/net/e1000/base/e1000_api.c
index f7cf83b..dcb53f7 100644
--- a/drivers/net/e1000/base/e1000_api.c
+++ b/drivers/net/e1000/base/e1000_api.c
@@ -855,7 +855,7 @@ int e1000_rar_set(struct e1000_hw *hw, u8 *addr, u32 index)
 	if (hw->mac.ops.rar_set)
 		return hw->mac.ops.rar_set(hw, addr, index);
 
-	return E1000_SUCCESS;
+	return E1000_ERR_NO_SPACE;
 }
 
 /**
diff --git a/drivers/net/e1000/em_ethdev.c b/drivers/net/e1000/em_ethdev.c
index 7110af3..3f124ec 100644
--- a/drivers/net/e1000/em_ethdev.c
+++ b/drivers/net/e1000/em_ethdev.c
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ static int eth_em_led_on(struct rte_eth_dev *dev);
 static int eth_em_led_off(struct rte_eth_dev *dev);
 
 static int em_get_rx_buffer_size(struct e1000_hw *hw);
-static void eth_em_rar_set(struct rte_eth_dev *dev, struct ether_addr *mac_addr,
+static int eth_em_rar_set(struct rte_eth_dev *dev, struct ether_addr *mac_addr,
 		uint32_t index, uint32_t pool);
 static void eth_em_rar_clear(struct rte_eth_dev *dev, uint32_t index);
 
@@ -1788,13 +1788,13 @@ eth_em_flow_ctrl_set(struct rte_eth_dev *dev, struct rte_eth_fc_conf *fc_conf)
 	return -EIO;
 }
 
-static void
+static int
 eth_em_rar_set(struct rte_eth_dev *dev, struct ether_addr *mac_addr,
 		uint32_t index, __rte_unused uint32_t pool)
 {
 	struct e1000_hw *hw = E1000_DEV_PRIVATE_TO_HW(dev->data->dev_private);
 
-	e1000_rar_set(hw, mac_addr->addr_bytes, index);
+	return e1000_rar_set(hw, mac_addr->addr_bytes, index);
 }
 
 static void
diff --git a/drivers/net/e1000/igb_ethdev.c b/drivers/net/e1000/igb_ethdev.c
index a73cd7a..35225ba 100644
--- a/drivers/net/e1000/igb_ethdev.c
+++ b/drivers/net/e1000/igb_ethdev.c
@@ -165,7 +165,7 @@ static int eth_igb_led_off(struct rte_eth_dev *dev);
 
 static void igb_intr_disable(struct e1000_hw *hw);
 static int  igb_get_rx_buffer_size(struct e1000_hw *hw);
-static void eth_igb_rar_set(struct rte_eth_dev *dev,
+static int eth_igb_rar_set(struct rte_eth_dev *dev,
 		struct ether_addr *mac_addr,
 		uint32_t index, uint32_t pool);
 static void eth_igb_rar_clear(struct rte_eth_dev *dev, uint32_t index);
@@ -2976,7 +2976,7 @@ eth_igb_flow_ctrl_set(struct rte_eth_dev *dev, struct rte_eth_fc_conf *fc_conf)
 }
 
 #define E1000_RAH_POOLSEL_SHIFT      (18)
-static void
+static int
 eth_igb_rar_set(struct rte_eth_dev *dev, struct ether_addr *mac_addr,
 	        uint32_t index, __rte_unused uint32_t pool)
 {
@@ -2987,6 +2987,7 @@ eth_igb_rar_set(struct rte_eth_dev *dev, struct ether_addr *mac_addr,
 	rah = E1000_READ_REG(hw, E1000_RAH(index));
 	rah |= (0x1 << (E1000_RAH_POOLSEL_SHIFT + pool));
 	E1000_WRITE_REG(hw, E1000_RAH(index), rah);
+	return 0;
 }
 
 static void
diff --git a/drivers/net/enic/enic.h b/drivers/net/enic/enic.h
index e921de4..d17a35f 100644
--- a/drivers/net/enic/enic.h
+++ b/drivers/net/enic/enic.h
@@ -279,7 +279,7 @@ extern void enic_dev_stats_get(struct enic *enic,
 	struct rte_eth_stats *r_stats);
 extern void enic_dev_stats_clear(struct enic *enic);
 extern void enic_add_packet_filter(struct enic *enic);
-void enic_set_mac_address(struct enic *enic, uint8_t *mac_addr);
+int enic_set_mac_address(struct enic *enic, uint8_t *mac_addr);
 void enic_del_mac_address(struct enic *enic, int mac_index);
 extern unsigned int enic_cleanup_wq(struct enic *enic, struct vnic_wq *wq);
 extern void enic_send_pkt(struct enic *enic, struct vnic_wq *wq,
diff --git a/drivers/net/enic/enic_ethdev.c b/drivers/net/enic/enic_ethdev.c
index 2c2e29e..9ef9c31 100644
--- a/drivers/net/enic/enic_ethdev.c
+++ b/drivers/net/enic/enic_ethdev.c
@@ -532,14 +532,14 @@ static void enicpmd_dev_allmulticast_disable(struct rte_eth_dev *eth_dev)
 	enic_add_packet_filter(enic);
 }
 
-static void enicpmd_add_mac_addr(struct rte_eth_dev *eth_dev,
+static int enicpmd_add_mac_addr(struct rte_eth_dev *eth_dev,
 	struct ether_addr *mac_addr,
 	__rte_unused uint32_t index, __rte_unused uint32_t pool)
 {
 	struct enic *enic = pmd_priv(eth_dev);
 
 	ENICPMD_FUNC_TRACE();
-	enic_set_mac_address(enic, mac_addr->addr_bytes);
+	return enic_set_mac_address(enic, mac_addr->addr_bytes);
 }
 
 static void enicpmd_remove_mac_addr(struct rte_eth_dev *eth_dev, uint32_t index)
diff --git a/drivers/net/enic/enic_main.c b/drivers/net/enic/enic_main.c
index 570b7b6..85490ab 100644
--- a/drivers/net/enic/enic_main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/enic/enic_main.c
@@ -202,20 +202,20 @@ void enic_del_mac_address(struct enic *enic, int mac_index)
 		dev_err(enic, "del mac addr failed\n");
 }
 
-void enic_set_mac_address(struct enic *enic, uint8_t *mac_addr)
+int enic_set_mac_address(struct enic *enic, uint8_t *mac_addr)
 {
 	int err;
 
 	if (!is_eth_addr_valid(mac_addr)) {
 		dev_err(enic, "invalid mac address\n");
-		return;
+		return -1;
 	}
 
 	err = vnic_dev_add_addr(enic->vdev, mac_addr);
 	if (err) {
 		dev_err(enic, "add mac addr failed\n");
-		return;
 	}
+	return err;
 }
 
 static void
diff --git a/drivers/net/fm10k/fm10k_ethdev.c b/drivers/net/fm10k/fm10k_ethdev.c
index b6775d8..a2a74d7 100644
--- a/drivers/net/fm10k/fm10k_ethdev.c
+++ b/drivers/net/fm10k/fm10k_ethdev.c
@@ -1689,7 +1689,7 @@ static void fm10k_MAC_filter_set(struct rte_eth_dev *dev,
 }
 
 /* Add a MAC address, and update filters */
-static void
+static int
 fm10k_macaddr_add(struct rte_eth_dev *dev,
 		struct ether_addr *mac_addr,
 		uint32_t index,
@@ -1700,6 +1700,7 @@ fm10k_macaddr_add(struct rte_eth_dev *dev,
 	macvlan = FM10K_DEV_PRIVATE_TO_MACVLAN(dev->data->dev_private);
 	fm10k_MAC_filter_set(dev, mac_addr->addr_bytes, TRUE, pool);
 	macvlan->mac_vmdq_id[index] = pool;
+	return 0;
 }
 
 /* Remove a MAC address, and update filters */
diff --git a/drivers/net/i40e/i40e_ethdev.c b/drivers/net/i40e/i40e_ethdev.c
index cb8bf2b..37a0c70 100644
--- a/drivers/net/i40e/i40e_ethdev.c
+++ b/drivers/net/i40e/i40e_ethdev.c
@@ -300,7 +300,7 @@ static int i40e_flow_ctrl_set(struct rte_eth_dev *dev,
 			      struct rte_eth_fc_conf *fc_conf);
 static int i40e_priority_flow_ctrl_set(struct rte_eth_dev *dev,
 				       struct rte_eth_pfc_conf *pfc_conf);
-static void i40e_macaddr_add(struct rte_eth_dev *dev,
+static int i40e_macaddr_add(struct rte_eth_dev *dev,
 			  struct ether_addr *mac_addr,
 			  uint32_t index,
 			  uint32_t pool);
@@ -3270,7 +3270,7 @@ i40e_priority_flow_ctrl_set(__rte_unused struct rte_eth_dev *dev,
 }
 
 /* Add a MAC address, and update filters */
-static void
+static int
 i40e_macaddr_add(struct rte_eth_dev *dev,
 		 struct ether_addr *mac_addr,
 		 __rte_unused uint32_t index,
@@ -3287,13 +3287,13 @@ i40e_macaddr_add(struct rte_eth_dev *dev,
 		PMD_DRV_LOG(ERR, "VMDQ not %s, can't set mac to pool %u",
 			pf->flags & I40E_FLAG_VMDQ ? "configured" : "enabled",
 			pool);
-		return;
+		return -ENOTSUP;
 	}
 
 	if (pool > pf->nb_cfg_vmdq_vsi) {
 		PMD_DRV_LOG(ERR, "Pool number %u invalid. Max pool is %u",
 				pool, pf->nb_cfg_vmdq_vsi);
-		return;
+		return -EINVAL;
 	}
 
 	(void)rte_memcpy(&mac_filter.mac_addr, mac_addr, ETHER_ADDR_LEN);
@@ -3310,8 +3310,9 @@ i40e_macaddr_add(struct rte_eth_dev *dev,
 	ret = i40e_vsi_add_mac(vsi, &mac_filter);
 	if (ret != I40E_SUCCESS) {
 		PMD_DRV_LOG(ERR, "Failed to add MACVLAN filter");
-		return;
+		return -ENODEV;
 	}
+	return 0;
 }
 
 /* Remove a MAC address, and update filters */
diff --git a/drivers/net/i40e/i40e_ethdev_vf.c b/drivers/net/i40e/i40e_ethdev_vf.c
index d3659c9..e4daa1c 100644
--- a/drivers/net/i40e/i40e_ethdev_vf.c
+++ b/drivers/net/i40e/i40e_ethdev_vf.c
@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ static int i40evf_dev_tx_queue_start(struct rte_eth_dev *dev,
 				     uint16_t tx_queue_id);
 static int i40evf_dev_tx_queue_stop(struct rte_eth_dev *dev,
 				    uint16_t tx_queue_id);
-static void i40evf_add_mac_addr(struct rte_eth_dev *dev,
+static int i40evf_add_mac_addr(struct rte_eth_dev *dev,
 				struct ether_addr *addr,
 				uint32_t index,
 				uint32_t pool);
@@ -854,7 +854,7 @@ i40evf_stop_queues(struct rte_eth_dev *dev)
 	return 0;
 }
 
-static void
+static int
 i40evf_add_mac_addr(struct rte_eth_dev *dev,
 		    struct ether_addr *addr,
 		    __rte_unused uint32_t index,
@@ -872,7 +872,7 @@ i40evf_add_mac_addr(struct rte_eth_dev *dev,
 			    addr->addr_bytes[0], addr->addr_bytes[1],
 			    addr->addr_bytes[2], addr->addr_bytes[3],
 			    addr->addr_bytes[4], addr->addr_bytes[5]);
-		return;
+		return I40E_ERR_INVALID_MAC_ADDR;
 	}
 
 	list = (struct i40e_virtchnl_ether_addr_list *)cmd_buffer;
@@ -891,7 +891,7 @@ i40evf_add_mac_addr(struct rte_eth_dev *dev,
 		PMD_DRV_LOG(ERR, "fail to execute command "
 			    "OP_ADD_ETHER_ADDRESS");
 
-	return;
+	return err;
 }
 
 static void
diff --git a/drivers/net/ixgbe/ixgbe_ethdev.c b/drivers/net/ixgbe/ixgbe_ethdev.c
index 0ad59c2..a59b2f0 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ixgbe/ixgbe_ethdev.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ixgbe/ixgbe_ethdev.c
@@ -241,7 +241,7 @@ static int ixgbe_dev_interrupt_action(struct rte_eth_dev *dev,
 static void ixgbe_dev_interrupt_handler(struct rte_intr_handle *handle,
 		void *param);
 static void ixgbe_dev_interrupt_delayed_handler(void *param);
-static void ixgbe_add_rar(struct rte_eth_dev *dev, struct ether_addr *mac_addr,
+static int ixgbe_add_rar(struct rte_eth_dev *dev, struct ether_addr *mac_addr,
 		uint32_t index, uint32_t pool);
 static void ixgbe_remove_rar(struct rte_eth_dev *dev, uint32_t index);
 static void ixgbe_set_default_mac_addr(struct rte_eth_dev *dev,
@@ -298,7 +298,7 @@ static void ixgbe_configure_msix(struct rte_eth_dev *dev);
 static int ixgbe_set_queue_rate_limit(struct rte_eth_dev *dev,
 		uint16_t queue_idx, uint16_t tx_rate);
 
-static void ixgbevf_add_mac_addr(struct rte_eth_dev *dev,
+static int ixgbevf_add_mac_addr(struct rte_eth_dev *dev,
 				 struct ether_addr *mac_addr,
 				 uint32_t index, uint32_t pool);
 static void ixgbevf_remove_mac_addr(struct rte_eth_dev *dev, uint32_t index);
@@ -4359,14 +4359,15 @@ ixgbe_dev_rss_reta_query(struct rte_eth_dev *dev,
 	return 0;
 }
 
-static void
+static int
 ixgbe_add_rar(struct rte_eth_dev *dev, struct ether_addr *mac_addr,
 				uint32_t index, uint32_t pool)
 {
 	struct ixgbe_hw *hw = IXGBE_DEV_PRIVATE_TO_HW(dev->data->dev_private);
 	uint32_t enable_addr = 1;
 
-	ixgbe_set_rar(hw, index, mac_addr->addr_bytes, pool, enable_addr);
+	return ixgbe_set_rar(hw, index, mac_addr->addr_bytes,
+				pool, enable_addr);
 }
 
 static void
@@ -5915,7 +5916,7 @@ static int ixgbe_set_queue_rate_limit(struct rte_eth_dev *dev,
 	return 0;
 }
 
-static void
+static int
 ixgbevf_add_mac_addr(struct rte_eth_dev *dev, struct ether_addr *mac_addr,
 		     __attribute__((unused)) uint32_t index,
 		     __attribute__((unused)) uint32_t pool)
@@ -5929,11 +5930,19 @@ ixgbevf_add_mac_addr(struct rte_eth_dev *dev, struct ether_addr *mac_addr,
 	 * set of PF resources used to store VF MAC addresses.
 	 */
 	if (memcmp(hw->mac.perm_addr, mac_addr, sizeof(struct ether_addr)) == 0)
-		return;
+		return -1;
 	diag = ixgbevf_set_uc_addr_vf(hw, 2, mac_addr->addr_bytes);
-	if (diag == 0)
-		return;
-	PMD_DRV_LOG(ERR, "Unable to add MAC address - diag=%d", diag);
+	if (diag != 0)
+		PMD_DRV_LOG(ERR, "Unable to add MAC address "
+				"%02x:%02x:%02x:%02x:%02x:%02x- diag=%d",
+				mac_addr->addr_bytes[0],
+				mac_addr->addr_bytes[1],
+				mac_addr->addr_bytes[2],
+				mac_addr->addr_bytes[3],
+				mac_addr->addr_bytes[4],
+				mac_addr->addr_bytes[5],
+				diag);
+	return diag;
 }
 
 static void
diff --git a/drivers/net/mlx4/mlx4.c b/drivers/net/mlx4/mlx4.c
index ff903e6..91fc4c4 100644
--- a/drivers/net/mlx4/mlx4.c
+++ b/drivers/net/mlx4/mlx4.c
@@ -4475,26 +4475,30 @@ mlx4_mac_addr_remove(struct rte_eth_dev *dev, uint32_t index)
  * @param vmdq
  *   VMDq pool index to associate address with (ignored).
  */
-static void
+static int
 mlx4_mac_addr_add(struct rte_eth_dev *dev, struct ether_addr *mac_addr,
 		  uint32_t index, uint32_t vmdq)
 {
 	struct priv *priv = dev->data->dev_private;
+	int re;
 
 	if (mlx4_is_secondary())
-		return;
+		return -ENOTSUP;
 	(void)vmdq;
 	priv_lock(priv);
 	DEBUG("%p: adding MAC address at index %" PRIu32,
 	      (void *)dev, index);
 	/* Last array entry is reserved for broadcast. */
-	if (index >= (elemof(priv->mac) - 1))
-		goto end;
-	priv_mac_addr_add(priv, index,
+	if (index >= (elemof(priv->mac) - 1)) {
+		priv_unlock(priv);
+		return -EINVAL;
+	}
+	re = priv_mac_addr_add(priv, index,
 			  (const uint8_t (*)[ETHER_ADDR_LEN])
 			  mac_addr->addr_bytes);
 end:
 	priv_unlock(priv);
+	return -re;
 }
 
 /**
diff --git a/drivers/net/mlx5/mlx5.h b/drivers/net/mlx5/mlx5.h
index d26d465..3c5de07 100644
--- a/drivers/net/mlx5/mlx5.h
+++ b/drivers/net/mlx5/mlx5.h
@@ -238,8 +238,8 @@ int hash_rxq_mac_addrs_add(struct hash_rxq *);
 int priv_mac_addr_add(struct priv *, unsigned int,
 		      const uint8_t (*)[ETHER_ADDR_LEN]);
 int priv_mac_addrs_enable(struct priv *);
-void mlx5_mac_addr_add(struct rte_eth_dev *, struct ether_addr *, uint32_t,
-		       uint32_t);
+int mlx5_mac_addr_add(struct rte_eth_dev *dev, struct ether_addr *mac_addr,
+		  uint32_t index, uint32_t vmdq);
 void mlx5_mac_addr_set(struct rte_eth_dev *, struct ether_addr *);
 
 /* mlx5_rss.c */
diff --git a/drivers/net/mlx5/mlx5_mac.c b/drivers/net/mlx5/mlx5_mac.c
index 4fcfd3b..3cc6f8b 100644
--- a/drivers/net/mlx5/mlx5_mac.c
+++ b/drivers/net/mlx5/mlx5_mac.c
@@ -470,26 +470,30 @@ priv_mac_addrs_enable(struct priv *priv)
  * @param vmdq
  *   VMDq pool index to associate address with (ignored).
  */
-void
+int
 mlx5_mac_addr_add(struct rte_eth_dev *dev, struct ether_addr *mac_addr,
 		  uint32_t index, uint32_t vmdq)
 {
 	struct priv *priv = dev->data->dev_private;
+	int re;
 
 	if (mlx5_is_secondary())
-		return;
+		return -ENOTSUP;
 
 	(void)vmdq;
 	priv_lock(priv);
 	DEBUG("%p: adding MAC address at index %" PRIu32,
 	      (void *)dev, index);
-	if (index >= RTE_DIM(priv->mac))
+	if (index >= RTE_DIM(priv->mac)) {
+		re = -EINVAL;
 		goto end;
-	priv_mac_addr_add(priv, index,
+	}
+	re = priv_mac_addr_add(priv, index,
 			  (const uint8_t (*)[ETHER_ADDR_LEN])
 			  mac_addr->addr_bytes);
 end:
 	priv_unlock(priv);
+	return -re;
 }
 
 /**
diff --git a/drivers/net/qede/qede_ethdev.c b/drivers/net/qede/qede_ethdev.c
index 2f1d2b5..2c8629f 100644
--- a/drivers/net/qede/qede_ethdev.c
+++ b/drivers/net/qede/qede_ethdev.c
@@ -506,16 +506,18 @@ qede_mac_int_ops(struct rte_eth_dev *eth_dev, struct ecore_filter_ucast *ucast,
 	return rc;
 }
 
-static void
+static int
 qede_mac_addr_add(struct rte_eth_dev *eth_dev, struct ether_addr *mac_addr,
 		  uint32_t index, __rte_unused uint32_t pool)
 {
 	struct ecore_filter_ucast ucast;
+	int re;
 
 	qede_set_ucast_cmn_params(&ucast);
 	ucast.type = ECORE_FILTER_MAC;
 	ether_addr_copy(mac_addr, (struct ether_addr *)&ucast.mac);
-	(void)qede_mac_int_ops(eth_dev, &ucast, 1);
+	re = (int)qede_mac_int_ops(eth_dev, &ucast, 1);
+	return re;
 }
 
 static void
diff --git a/drivers/net/ring/rte_eth_ring.c b/drivers/net/ring/rte_eth_ring.c
index 77ef3a1..4ca4ca8 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ring/rte_eth_ring.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ring/rte_eth_ring.c
@@ -224,12 +224,13 @@ eth_mac_addr_remove(struct rte_eth_dev *dev __rte_unused,
 {
 }
 
-static void
+static int
 eth_mac_addr_add(struct rte_eth_dev *dev __rte_unused,
 	struct ether_addr *mac_addr __rte_unused,
 	uint32_t index __rte_unused,
 	uint32_t vmdq __rte_unused)
 {
+	return -1;
 }
 
 static void
diff --git a/drivers/net/virtio/virtio_ethdev.c b/drivers/net/virtio/virtio_ethdev.c
index 6a9568f..462b36b 100644
--- a/drivers/net/virtio/virtio_ethdev.c
+++ b/drivers/net/virtio/virtio_ethdev.c
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ static void virtio_dev_stats_reset(struct rte_eth_dev *dev);
 static void virtio_dev_free_mbufs(struct rte_eth_dev *dev);
 static int virtio_vlan_filter_set(struct rte_eth_dev *dev,
 				uint16_t vlan_id, int on);
-static void virtio_mac_addr_add(struct rte_eth_dev *dev,
+static int virtio_mac_addr_add(struct rte_eth_dev *dev,
 				struct ether_addr *mac_addr,
 				uint32_t index, uint32_t vmdq __rte_unused);
 static void virtio_mac_addr_remove(struct rte_eth_dev *dev, uint32_t index);
@@ -1019,7 +1019,7 @@ virtio_get_hwaddr(struct virtio_hw *hw)
 	}
 }
 
-static void
+static int
 virtio_mac_table_set(struct virtio_hw *hw,
 		     const struct virtio_net_ctrl_mac *uc,
 		     const struct virtio_net_ctrl_mac *mc)
@@ -1029,7 +1029,7 @@ virtio_mac_table_set(struct virtio_hw *hw,
 
 	if (!vtpci_with_feature(hw, VIRTIO_NET_F_CTRL_MAC_ADDR)) {
 		PMD_DRV_LOG(INFO, "host does not support mac table");
-		return;
+		return -1;
 	}
 
 	ctrl.hdr.class = VIRTIO_NET_CTRL_MAC;
@@ -1044,9 +1044,10 @@ virtio_mac_table_set(struct virtio_hw *hw,
 	err = virtio_send_command(hw->cvq, &ctrl, len, 2);
 	if (err != 0)
 		PMD_DRV_LOG(NOTICE, "mac table set failed: %d", err);
+	return err;
 }
 
-static void
+static int
 virtio_mac_addr_add(struct rte_eth_dev *dev, struct ether_addr *mac_addr,
 		    uint32_t index, uint32_t vmdq __rte_unused)
 {
@@ -1057,7 +1058,7 @@ virtio_mac_addr_add(struct rte_eth_dev *dev, struct ether_addr *mac_addr,
 
 	if (index >= VIRTIO_MAX_MAC_ADDRS) {
 		PMD_DRV_LOG(ERR, "mac address index %u out of range", index);
-		return;
+		return -EINVAL;
 	}
 
 	uc = alloca(VIRTIO_MAX_MAC_ADDRS * ETHER_ADDR_LEN + sizeof(uc->entries));
@@ -1074,7 +1075,7 @@ virtio_mac_addr_add(struct rte_eth_dev *dev, struct ether_addr *mac_addr,
 		memcpy(&tbl->macs[tbl->entries++], addr, ETHER_ADDR_LEN);
 	}
 
-	virtio_mac_table_set(hw, uc, mc);
+	return virtio_mac_table_set(hw, uc, mc);
 }
 
 static void
diff --git a/lib/librte_ether/rte_ethdev.c b/lib/librte_ether/rte_ethdev.c
index 4e1e6dc..6b5de73 100644
--- a/lib/librte_ether/rte_ethdev.c
+++ b/lib/librte_ether/rte_ethdev.c
@@ -2167,6 +2167,7 @@ rte_eth_dev_mac_addr_add(uint8_t port_id, struct ether_addr *addr,
 	struct rte_eth_dev *dev;
 	int index;
 	uint64_t pool_mask;
+	int ret;
 
 	RTE_ETH_VALID_PORTID_OR_ERR_RET(port_id, -ENODEV);
 	dev = &rte_eth_devices[port_id];
@@ -2199,15 +2200,17 @@ rte_eth_dev_mac_addr_add(uint8_t port_id, struct ether_addr *addr,
 	}
 
 	/* Update NIC */
-	(*dev->dev_ops->mac_addr_add)(dev, addr, index, pool);
+	ret = (*dev->dev_ops->mac_addr_add)(dev, addr, index, pool);
 
-	/* Update address in NIC data structure */
-	ether_addr_copy(addr, &dev->data->mac_addrs[index]);
+	if (ret == 0) {
+		/* Update address in NIC data structure */
+		ether_addr_copy(addr, &dev->data->mac_addrs[index]);
 
-	/* Update pool bitmap in NIC data structure */
-	dev->data->mac_pool_sel[index] |= (1ULL << pool);
+		/* Update pool bitmap in NIC data structure */
+		dev->data->mac_pool_sel[index] |= (1ULL << pool);
+	}
 
-	return 0;
+	return ret;
 }
 
 int
diff --git a/lib/librte_ether/rte_ethdev.h b/lib/librte_ether/rte_ethdev.h
index d072538..08e6c13 100644
--- a/lib/librte_ether/rte_ethdev.h
+++ b/lib/librte_ether/rte_ethdev.h
@@ -1277,7 +1277,7 @@ typedef int (*eth_dev_led_off_t)(struct rte_eth_dev *dev);
 typedef void (*eth_mac_addr_remove_t)(struct rte_eth_dev *dev, uint32_t index);
 /**< @internal Remove MAC address from receive address register */
 
-typedef void (*eth_mac_addr_add_t)(struct rte_eth_dev *dev,
+typedef int (*eth_mac_addr_add_t)(struct rte_eth_dev *dev,
 				  struct ether_addr *mac_addr,
 				  uint32_t index,
 				  uint32_t vmdq);
