diff --git a/src/platform/silabs/ConnectivityManagerImpl_WIFI.cpp b/src/platform/silabs/ConnectivityManagerImpl_WIFI.cpp
index 215cfddb6d37cb..66283c1d511fe3 100644
--- a/src/platform/silabs/ConnectivityManagerImpl_WIFI.cpp
+++ b/src/platform/silabs/ConnectivityManagerImpl_WIFI.cpp
@@ -260,6 +260,7 @@ void ConnectivityManagerImpl::DriveStationState()
         // Ensure that the WFX is started.
         if ((serr = wfx_wifi_start()) != SL_STATUS_OK)
         {
+            err = CHIP_ERROR_INTERNAL;
             ChipLogError(DeviceLayer, "wfx_wifi_start() failed: %s", chip::ErrorStr(err));
             return;
         }