diff --git a/device/uapi.go b/device/uapi.go
index 90a9952..424fbfb 100644
--- a/device/uapi.go
+++ b/device/uapi.go
@@ -427,8 +427,8 @@ func (device *Device) IpcHandle(socket net.Conn) {
 	// write status
 	var status *IPCError
 	if err != nil && !errors.As(err, &status) {
-		// I/O error, maybe something unexpected
-		status = ipcErrorf(1, "other UAPI error: %w", err)
+		// shouldn't happen
+		status = ipcErrorf(ipc.IpcErrorUnknown, "other UAPI error: %w", err)
 	}
 	if status != nil {
 		device.log.Error.Println(status)
diff --git a/ipc/uapi_unix.go b/ipc/uapi_unix.go
index 510ab31..9074fd9 100644
--- a/ipc/uapi_unix.go
+++ b/ipc/uapi_unix.go
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ const (
 	IpcErrorProtocol  = -int64(unix.EPROTO)
 	IpcErrorInvalid   = -int64(unix.EINVAL)
 	IpcErrorPortInUse = -int64(unix.EADDRINUSE)
+	IpcErrorUnknown   = -55 // ENOANO
 )
 
 // socketDirectory is variable because it is modified by a linker