diff --git a/src/libxl/libxl_domain.c b/src/libxl/libxl_domain.c
index f0eaf6c671..21c41d7424 100644
--- a/src/libxl/libxl_domain.c
+++ b/src/libxl/libxl_domain.c
@@ -685,7 +685,11 @@ libxlDomainShutdownThread(void *opaque)
     }
     libxl_domain_destroy(ctx, vm->def->id, NULL);
     libxlDomainCleanupJob(driver, vm, VIR_DOMAIN_SHUTOFF_SHUTDOWN);
-    libxlDomainStart(driver, vm, 0, -1);
+    if (libxlDomainStart(driver, vm, false, -1) < 0) {
+        virErrorPtr err = virGetLastError();
+        VIR_ERROR(_("Failed to restart VM '%s': %s"),
+                  vm->def->name, err ? err->message : _("unknown error"));
+    }
 
  cleanup:
     if (vm)