diff --git a/linux-user/elfload.c b/linux-user/elfload.c
index e525901659..c6731013fd 100644
--- a/linux-user/elfload.c
+++ b/linux-user/elfload.c
@@ -2235,7 +2235,8 @@ static uintptr_t pgb_find_hole(uintptr_t guest_loaddr, uintptr_t guest_size,
     brk = (uintptr_t)sbrk(0);
 
     if (!maps) {
-        return pgd_find_hole_fallback(guest_size, brk, align, offset);
+        ret = pgd_find_hole_fallback(guest_size, brk, align, offset);
+        return ret == -1 ? -1 : ret - guest_loaddr;
     }
 
     /* The first hole is before the first map entry. */