diff --git a/blockdev.c b/blockdev.c
index cd438e60e3..65884a2826 100644
--- a/blockdev.c
+++ b/blockdev.c
@@ -1825,9 +1825,7 @@ static void drive_backup_prepare(BlkActionState *common, Error **errp)
     aio_context_acquire(aio_context);
 
     if (set_backing_hd) {
-        bdrv_set_backing_hd(target_bs, source, &local_err);
-        if (local_err) {
-            error_propagate(errp, local_err);
+        if (bdrv_set_backing_hd(target_bs, source, errp) < 0) {
             goto unref;
         }
     }