diff --git a/qga/commands-posix.c b/qga/commands-posix.c
index f6af7d1ebf..6af974f61b 100644
--- a/qga/commands-posix.c
+++ b/qga/commands-posix.c
@@ -223,8 +223,8 @@ static int64_t guest_file_handle_add(FILE *fh, Error **errp)
     int64_t handle;
 
     handle = ga_get_fd_handle(ga_state, errp);
-    if (error_is_set(errp)) {
-        return 0;
+    if (handle < 0) {
+        return -1;
     }
 
     gfh = g_malloc0(sizeof(GuestFileHandle));
@@ -407,7 +407,7 @@ int64_t qmp_guest_file_open(const char *path, bool has_mode, const char *mode,
     }
 
     handle = guest_file_handle_add(fh, errp);
-    if (error_is_set(errp)) {
+    if (handle < 0) {
         fclose(fh);
         return -1;
     }
diff --git a/qga/main.c b/qga/main.c
index 38219c9d77..8b927c9db7 100644
--- a/qga/main.c
+++ b/qga/main.c
@@ -910,6 +910,7 @@ int64_t ga_get_fd_handle(GAState *s, Error **errp)
 
     if (!write_persistent_state(&s->pstate, s->pstate_filepath)) {
         error_setg(errp, "failed to commit persistent state to disk");
+        return -1;
     }
 
     return handle;