diff --git a/drivers/include/tmp00x.h b/drivers/include/tmp00x.h
index edc3a06057..bdc336474d 100644
--- a/drivers/include/tmp00x.h
+++ b/drivers/include/tmp00x.h
@@ -257,6 +257,10 @@ void tmp00x_convert(int16_t rawv, int16_t rawt,  float *tamb, float *tobj);
  * @param[in]  dev          device descriptor of sensor
  * @param[out] ta           converted ambient temperature
  * @param[out] to           converted object temperature
+ *
+ * @return                  TMP00X_OK on success
+ * @return                  -TMP00X_ERROR if data read not ready
+ * @return                  -TMP00X_ERROR_BUS on I2C error
  */
 int tmp00x_read_temperature(const tmp00x_t *dev, int16_t *ta, int16_t *to);
 
diff --git a/drivers/tmp00x/tmp00x.c b/drivers/tmp00x/tmp00x.c
index 6872f9e7af..d97e0291b8 100644
--- a/drivers/tmp00x/tmp00x.c
+++ b/drivers/tmp00x/tmp00x.c
@@ -214,18 +214,30 @@ int tmp00x_read_temperature(const tmp00x_t *dev, int16_t *ta, int16_t *to)
     xtimer_usleep(TMP00X_CONVERSION_TIME);
 #endif
 
+int ret;
 #if TMP00X_USE_RAW_VALUES
-    tmp00x_read(dev, to, ta, &drdy);
+    if ((ret = tmp00x_read(dev, to, ta, &drdy)) < 0) {
+        return ret;
+    }
 
     if (!drdy) {
-        return TMP00X_ERROR;
+#if TMP00X_USE_LOW_POWER
+        tmp00x_set_standby(dev);
+#endif
+        return -TMP00X_ERROR;
     }
 #else
-    tmp00x_read(dev, &rawvolt, &rawtemp, &drdy);
+    if ((ret = tmp00x_read(dev, &rawvolt, &rawtemp, &drdy)) < 0) {
+        return ret;
+    }
 
     if (!drdy) {
-        return TMP00X_ERROR;
+#if TMP00X_USE_LOW_POWER
+        tmp00x_set_standby(dev);
+#endif
+        return -TMP00X_ERROR;
     }
+
     tmp00x_convert(rawvolt, rawtemp,  &tamb, &tobj);
     *ta = (int16_t)(tamb*100);
     *to = (int16_t)(tobj*100);
@@ -233,7 +245,7 @@ int tmp00x_read_temperature(const tmp00x_t *dev, int16_t *ta, int16_t *to)
 
 #if TMP00X_USE_LOW_POWER
     if (tmp00x_set_standby(dev)) {
-        return TMP00X_ERROR;
+        return -TMP00X_ERROR;
     }
 #endif