diff --git a/src/conf/virdomainobjlist.c b/src/conf/virdomainobjlist.c
index d874133a78..a8b3f41243 100644
--- a/src/conf/virdomainobjlist.c
+++ b/src/conf/virdomainobjlist.c
@@ -605,6 +605,8 @@ virDomainObjListLoadAllConfigs(virDomainObjListPtr doms,
             if (!liveStatus)
                 dom->persistent = 1;
             virObjectUnlock(dom);
+        } else {
+            VIR_ERROR(_("Failed to load config for domain '%s'"), entry->d_name);
         }
     }