diff --git a/qemu-seccomp.c b/qemu-seccomp.c
index cf07869599..b7c125364c 100644
--- a/qemu-seccomp.c
+++ b/qemu-seccomp.c
@@ -231,6 +231,7 @@ int seccomp_start(void)
 
     ctx = seccomp_init(SCMP_ACT_KILL);
     if (ctx == NULL) {
+        rc = -1;
         goto seccomp_return;
     }