diff --git a/src/qemu/qemu_domain.c b/src/qemu/qemu_domain.c
index 2eacef2a77..41d1263f4c 100644
--- a/src/qemu/qemu_domain.c
+++ b/src/qemu/qemu_domain.c
@@ -1609,8 +1609,9 @@ int qemuDomainObjExitMonitor(virQEMUDriverPtr driver,
 {
     qemuDomainObjExitMonitorInternal(driver, obj);
     if (!virDomainObjIsActive(obj)) {
-        virReportError(VIR_ERR_OPERATION_FAILED, "%s",
-                       _("domain is no longer running"));
+        if (!virGetLastError())
+            virReportError(VIR_ERR_OPERATION_FAILED, "%s",
+                           _("domain is no longer running"));
         return -1;
     }
     return 0;