diff --git a/doc/coreutils.texi b/doc/coreutils.texi
index 5a0c47659..eb174620d 100644
--- a/doc/coreutils.texi
+++ b/doc/coreutils.texi
@@ -15123,7 +15123,6 @@ Exit status:
 1 if standard input is a non-terminal file
 2 if given incorrect arguments
 3 if a write error occurs
-4 if standard input is closed or its type cannot be determined
 @end display
 
 
diff --git a/src/tty.c b/src/tty.c
index 994b35611..c02a0d0db 100644
--- a/src/tty.c
+++ b/src/tty.c
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
 /* Displays "not a tty" if stdin is not a terminal.
    Displays nothing if -s option is given.
    Exit status 0 if stdin is a tty, 1 if not a tty, 2 if usage error,
-   3 if write error, 4 for other stdin errors.
+   3 if write error.
 
    Written by David MacKenzie <djm@gnu.ai.mit.edu>.  */
 
@@ -35,8 +35,7 @@ enum
   {
     TTY_STDIN_NOTTY = 1,
     TTY_FAILURE = 2,
-    TTY_WRITE_ERROR = 3,
-    TTY_STDIN_ERROR = 4
+    TTY_WRITE_ERROR = 3
   };
 
 /* The official name of this program (e.g., no 'g' prefix).  */
@@ -118,17 +117,13 @@ main (int argc, char **argv)
   errno = ENOENT;
 
   if (silent)
-    return (isatty (STDIN_FILENO) ? EXIT_SUCCESS
-            : (errno == ENOTTY || errno == EINVAL) ? TTY_STDIN_NOTTY
-            : TTY_STDIN_ERROR);
+    return isatty (STDIN_FILENO) ? EXIT_SUCCESS : TTY_STDIN_NOTTY;
 
   int status = EXIT_SUCCESS;
   char const *tty = ttyname (STDIN_FILENO);
 
   if (! tty)
     {
-      if (errno != ENOTTY && errno != EINVAL)
-        error (TTY_STDIN_ERROR, errno, _("standard input"));
       tty = _("not a tty");
       status = TTY_STDIN_NOTTY;
     }
diff --git a/tests/misc/tty.sh b/tests/misc/tty.sh
index 904b5d6a2..aa3203be5 100755
--- a/tests/misc/tty.sh
+++ b/tests/misc/tty.sh
@@ -27,6 +27,8 @@ fi
 
 returns_ 1 tty </dev/null || fail=1
 returns_ 1 tty -s </dev/null || fail=1
+returns_ 1 tty <&- 2>/dev/null || fail=1
+returns_ 1 tty -s <&- || fail=1
 
 returns_ 2 tty a || fail=1
 returns_ 2 tty -s a || fail=1
@@ -38,7 +40,4 @@ if test -w /dev/full && test -c /dev/full; then
   returns_ 3 tty </dev/null >/dev/full || fail=1
 fi
 
-returns_ 4 tty <&- 2>/dev/null || fail=1
-returns_ 4 tty -s <&- || fail=1
-
 Exit $fail