diff --git a/src/libxl/libxl_driver.c b/src/libxl/libxl_driver.c
index b8b4c24ce2..7f4c5d1d03 100644
--- a/src/libxl/libxl_driver.c
+++ b/src/libxl/libxl_driver.c
@@ -319,9 +319,9 @@ libxlAutostartDomain(virDomainObjPtr vm,
 
     if (vm->autostart && !virDomainObjIsActive(vm) &&
         libxlDomainStartNew(driver, vm, false) < 0) {
-        VIR_ERROR(_("Failed to autostart VM '%s': %s"),
-                  vm->def->name,
-                  virGetLastErrorMessage());
+        virReportError(VIR_ERR_INTERNAL_ERROR,
+                       _("Failed to autostart VM '%s': %s"),
+                       vm->def->name, virGetLastErrorMessage());
         goto endjob;
     }