diff --git a/net/sched/sch_htb.c b/net/sched/sch_htb.c
index 05c8291865ae..0d947414e616 100644
--- a/net/sched/sch_htb.c
+++ b/net/sched/sch_htb.c
@@ -1709,8 +1709,10 @@ static int htb_delete(struct Qdisc *sch, unsigned long arg,
 	 * tc subsys guarantee us that in htb_destroy it holds no class
 	 * refs so that we can remove children safely there ?
 	 */
-	if (cl->children || qdisc_class_in_use(&cl->common))
+	if (cl->children || qdisc_class_in_use(&cl->common)) {
+		NL_SET_ERR_MSG(extack, "HTB class in use");
 		return -EBUSY;
+	}
 
 	if (!cl->level && htb_parent_last_child(cl))
 		last_child = 1;