diff --git a/src/qemu/qemu_hotplug.c b/src/qemu/qemu_hotplug.c
index 19172e1255..8103183386 100644
--- a/src/qemu/qemu_hotplug.c
+++ b/src/qemu/qemu_hotplug.c
@@ -2539,6 +2539,7 @@ qemuDomainDetachNetDevice(virQEMUDriverPtr driver,
     detach = vm->def->nets[detachidx];
 
     if (virDomainNetGetActualType(detach) == VIR_DOMAIN_NET_TYPE_HOSTDEV) {
+        /* coverity[negative_returns] */
         ret = qemuDomainDetachThisHostDevice(driver, vm,
                                              virDomainNetGetActualHostdev(detach),
                                              -1);