diff --git a/drivers/i2c/i2c-core-base.c b/drivers/i2c/i2c-core-base.c
index 9732a81bb7dd..9c38dde73366 100644
--- a/drivers/i2c/i2c-core-base.c
+++ b/drivers/i2c/i2c-core-base.c
@@ -714,7 +714,7 @@ static int i2c_dev_irq_from_resources(const struct resource *resources,
 }
 
 /**
- * i2c_new_device - instantiate an i2c device
+ * i2c_new_client_device - instantiate an i2c device
  * @adap: the adapter managing the device
  * @info: describes one I2C device; bus_num is ignored
  * Context: can sleep
@@ -727,17 +727,17 @@ static int i2c_dev_irq_from_resources(const struct resource *resources,
  * before any i2c_adapter could exist.
  *
  * This returns the new i2c client, which may be saved for later use with
- * i2c_unregister_device(); or NULL to indicate an error.
+ * i2c_unregister_device(); or an ERR_PTR to describe the error.
  */
-struct i2c_client *
-i2c_new_device(struct i2c_adapter *adap, struct i2c_board_info const *info)
+static struct i2c_client *
+i2c_new_client_device(struct i2c_adapter *adap, struct i2c_board_info const *info)
 {
 	struct i2c_client	*client;
 	int			status;
 
 	client = kzalloc(sizeof *client, GFP_KERNEL);
 	if (!client)
-		return NULL;
+		return ERR_PTR(-ENOMEM);
 
 	client->adapter = adap;
 
@@ -803,7 +803,31 @@ i2c_new_device(struct i2c_adapter *adap, struct i2c_board_info const *info)
 		client->name, client->addr, status);
 out_err_silent:
 	kfree(client);
-	return NULL;
+	return ERR_PTR(status);
+}
+EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(i2c_new_client_device);
+
+/**
+ * i2c_new_device - instantiate an i2c device
+ * @adap: the adapter managing the device
+ * @info: describes one I2C device; bus_num is ignored
+ * Context: can sleep
+ *
+ * This deprecated function has the same functionality as
+ * @i2c_new_client_device, it just returns NULL instead of an ERR_PTR in case of
+ * an error for compatibility with current I2C API. It will be removed once all
+ * users are converted.
+ *
+ * This returns the new i2c client, which may be saved for later use with
+ * i2c_unregister_device(); or NULL to indicate an error.
+ */
+struct i2c_client *
+i2c_new_device(struct i2c_adapter *adap, struct i2c_board_info const *info)
+{
+	struct i2c_client *ret;
+
+	ret = i2c_new_client_device(adap, info);
+	return IS_ERR(ret) ? NULL : ret;
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(i2c_new_device);
 
@@ -854,7 +878,7 @@ static struct i2c_driver dummy_driver = {
 };
 
 /**
- * i2c_new_dummy - return a new i2c device bound to a dummy driver
+ * i2c_new_dummy_device - return a new i2c device bound to a dummy driver
  * @adapter: the adapter managing the device
  * @address: seven bit address to be used
  * Context: can sleep
@@ -869,15 +893,39 @@ static struct i2c_driver dummy_driver = {
  * different driver.
  *
  * This returns the new i2c client, which should be saved for later use with
- * i2c_unregister_device(); or NULL to indicate an error.
+ * i2c_unregister_device(); or an ERR_PTR to describe the error.
  */
-struct i2c_client *i2c_new_dummy(struct i2c_adapter *adapter, u16 address)
+static struct i2c_client *
+i2c_new_dummy_device(struct i2c_adapter *adapter, u16 address)
 {
 	struct i2c_board_info info = {
 		I2C_BOARD_INFO("dummy", address),
 	};
 
-	return i2c_new_device(adapter, &info);
+	return i2c_new_client_device(adapter, &info);
+}
+EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(i2c_new_dummy_device);
+
+/**
+ * i2c_new_dummy - return a new i2c device bound to a dummy driver
+ * @adapter: the adapter managing the device
+ * @address: seven bit address to be used
+ * Context: can sleep
+ *
+ * This deprecated function has the same functionality as @i2c_new_dummy_device,
+ * it just returns NULL instead of an ERR_PTR in case of an error for
+ * compatibility with current I2C API. It will be removed once all users are
+ * converted.
+ *
+ * This returns the new i2c client, which should be saved for later use with
+ * i2c_unregister_device(); or NULL to indicate an error.
+ */
+struct i2c_client *i2c_new_dummy(struct i2c_adapter *adapter, u16 address)
+{
+	struct i2c_client *ret;
+
+	ret = i2c_new_dummy_device(adapter, address);
+	return IS_ERR(ret) ? NULL : ret;
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(i2c_new_dummy);
 
@@ -1000,9 +1048,9 @@ i2c_sysfs_new_device(struct device *dev, struct device_attribute *attr,
 		info.flags |= I2C_CLIENT_SLAVE;
 	}
 
-	client = i2c_new_device(adap, &info);
-	if (!client)
-		return -EINVAL;
+	client = i2c_new_client_device(adap, &info);
+	if (IS_ERR(client))
+		return PTR_ERR(client);
 
 	/* Keep track of the added device */
 	mutex_lock(&adap->userspace_clients_lock);