--- a/lib/master.c	Sat May 31 15:37:33 2014 +1200
+++ b/lib/master.c	Tue Apr 14 09:33:24 2015 -0400
@@ -715,11 +715,16 @@
 
     ret = ioctl(master->fd, EC_IOCTL_REF_CLOCK_TIME, time);
     if (EC_IOCTL_IS_ERROR(ret)) {
-        fprintf(stderr, "Failed to get reference clock time: %s\n",
-                strerror(EC_IOCTL_ERRNO(ret)));
-    }
-
-    return ret;
+        ret = EC_IOCTL_ERRNO(ret);
+        if (ret != EIO && ret != ENXIO) {
+            // do not log if no refclk or no refclk time yet
+            fprintf(stderr, "Failed to get reference clock time: %s\n",
+                    strerror(ret));
+        }
+        return -ret;
+    }
+
+    return 0;
 }
 
 /****************************************************************************/