--- a/sys/bus/u4b/controller/uhci_pci.c
+++ b/sys/bus/u4b/controller/uhci_pci.c
@@ -370,8 +370,15 @@
 {
 	uhci_softc_t *sc = device_get_softc(self);
 
+	int error;
+
 	/* during module unload there are lots of children leftover */
-	device_delete_children(self);
+	error = device_delete_children(self);
+	if (error != 0) {
+		device_printf(self, "child device failed to detach (%d); "
+		    "refusing controller teardown\n", error);
+		return (error);
+	}
 
 	/*
 	 * disable interrupts that might have been switched on in