diff --git a/tests/qemublocktest.c b/tests/qemublocktest.c
index a89dddf002..161fd84871 100644
--- a/tests/qemublocktest.c
+++ b/tests/qemublocktest.c
@@ -1015,6 +1015,7 @@ mymain(void)
         xmljsonxmldata.legacy = true; \
         if (virTestRun(virTestCounterNext(), testBackingXMLjsonXML, \
                        &xmljsonxmldata) < 0) \
+            ret = -1; \
         xmljsonxmldata.legacy = false; \
         if (virTestRun(virTestCounterNext(), testBackingXMLjsonXML, \
                        &xmljsonxmldata) < 0) \