diff --git a/savevm.c b/savevm.c
index adff42140c..392a14f79c 100644
--- a/savevm.c
+++ b/savevm.c
@@ -235,6 +235,9 @@ static int stdio_pclose(void *opaque)
     QEMUFileStdio *s = opaque;
     int ret;
     ret = pclose(s->stdio_file);
+    if (ret == -1) {
+        ret = -errno;
+    }
     g_free(s);
     return ret;
 }