diff --git a/libfwupd/fwupd-device.c b/libfwupd/fwupd-device.c
index 40076e4ba..73feb3b19 100644
--- a/libfwupd/fwupd-device.c
+++ b/libfwupd/fwupd-device.c
@@ -1284,7 +1284,7 @@ guint32
 fwupd_device_get_battery_level(FwupdDevice *self)
 {
 	FwupdDevicePrivate *priv = GET_PRIVATE(self);
-	g_return_val_if_fail(FWUPD_IS_DEVICE(self), FWUPD_BATTERY_LEVEL_INVALID);
+	g_return_val_if_fail(FWUPD_IS_DEVICE(self), G_MAXUINT);
 	return priv->battery_level;
 }
 
diff --git a/libfwupdplugin/fu-device.c b/libfwupdplugin/fu-device.c
index 4e217d897..c8ba3de72 100644
--- a/libfwupdplugin/fu-device.c
+++ b/libfwupdplugin/fu-device.c
@@ -3558,7 +3558,7 @@ fu_device_ensure_battery_inhibit(FuDevice *self)
 guint
 fu_device_get_battery_level(FuDevice *self)
 {
-	g_return_val_if_fail(FU_IS_DEVICE(self), FWUPD_BATTERY_LEVEL_INVALID);
+	g_return_val_if_fail(FU_IS_DEVICE(self), G_MAXUINT);
 
 	/* use the parent if the child is unset */
 	if (fu_device_has_internal_flag(self, FU_DEVICE_INTERNAL_FLAG_USE_PARENT_FOR_BATTERY) &&