diff --git a/src/util/virfile.c b/src/util/virfile.c
index a45279abf8..f006abfcee 100644
--- a/src/util/virfile.c
+++ b/src/util/virfile.c
@@ -325,7 +325,7 @@ virFileWrapperFdClose(virFileWrapperFdPtr wfd)
         return 0;
 
     ret = virCommandWait(wfd->cmd, NULL);
-    if (wfd->err_msg)
+    if (wfd->err_msg && *wfd->err_msg)
         VIR_WARN("iohelper reports: %s", wfd->err_msg);
 
     return ret;