diff --git a/drivers/video/fbdev/core/fbmem.c b/drivers/video/fbdev/core/fbmem.c
index 6a1f3910934d..52bd3af54369 100644
--- a/drivers/video/fbdev/core/fbmem.c
+++ b/drivers/video/fbdev/core/fbmem.c
@@ -868,8 +868,10 @@ fb_set_var(struct fb_info *info, struct fb_var_screeninfo *var)
 	    !list_empty(&info->modelist))
 		ret = fb_add_videomode(&mode, &info->modelist);
 
-	if (ret)
+	if (ret) {
+		info->var = old_var;
 		return ret;
+	}
 
 	event.info = info;
 	event.data = &mode;