diff --git a/src/util/virprocess.c b/src/util/virprocess.c
index 31b833e5c8..6ce5ef99a9 100644
--- a/src/util/virprocess.c
+++ b/src/util/virprocess.c
@@ -436,7 +436,7 @@ virProcessKillPainfullyDelay(pid_t pid, bool force, unsigned int extradelay, boo
                          _("Failed to terminate process %1$lld with SIG%2$s"),
                          (long long)pid, signame);
 
-    return 0;
+    return -1;
 }