diff --git a/fs/vfs/fs_stat.c b/fs/vfs/fs_stat.c
index 5d8ffde263..0e40cbfece 100644
--- a/fs/vfs/fs_stat.c
+++ b/fs/vfs/fs_stat.c
@@ -120,6 +120,10 @@ static int stat_recursive(FAR const char *path,
 
           ret = inode->u.i_mops->stat(inode, desc.relpath, buf);
         }
+      else
+        {
+          ret = -ENOSYS;
+        }
     }
   else
 #endif