diff --git a/src/util/virnetdevtap.c b/src/util/virnetdevtap.c
index ab5959c646..cbce5c71b7 100644
--- a/src/util/virnetdevtap.c
+++ b/src/util/virnetdevtap.c
@@ -322,7 +322,7 @@ int virNetDevTapCreate(char **ifname,
     size_t i = 0;
     struct ifreq ifr;
     int ret = -1;
-    int fd = 0;
+    int fd = -1;
 
     virMutexLock(&virNetDevTapCreateMutex);