diff --git a/src/storage/storage_backend.c b/src/storage/storage_backend.c
index 430dccfeee..6aa55939f1 100644
--- a/src/storage/storage_backend.c
+++ b/src/storage/storage_backend.c
@@ -1063,6 +1063,7 @@ virStorageBackendCreateQemuImgCheckEncryption(int format,
         if (enc->nsecrets == 0) {
             virReportError(VIR_ERR_XML_ERROR, "%s",
                            _("no secret provided for luks encryption"));
+            return -1;
         }
     } else {
         virReportError(VIR_ERR_CONFIG_UNSUPPORTED,