diff --git a/tools/nss/libvirt_nss.c b/tools/nss/libvirt_nss.c
index 418c11fafe..b69e62c8b1 100644
--- a/tools/nss/libvirt_nss.c
+++ b/tools/nss/libvirt_nss.c
@@ -309,7 +309,8 @@ findLease(const char *name,
     }
     VIR_DIR_CLOSE(dir);
 
-    nleases = virJSONValueArraySize(leases_array);
+    if ((nleases = virJSONValueArraySize(leases_array)) < 0)
+        goto cleanup;
     DEBUG("Read %zd leases", nleases);
 
 #if !defined(LIBVIRT_NSS_GUEST)