diff --git a/util/vhost-user-server.c b/util/vhost-user-server.c
index a7b7a9897f..981908fef0 100644
--- a/util/vhost-user-server.c
+++ b/util/vhost-user-server.c
@@ -169,8 +169,10 @@ vu_message_read(VuDev *vu_dev, int conn_fd, VhostUserMsg *vmsg)
     };
     if (vmsg->size) {
         rc = qio_channel_readv_all_eof(ioc, &iov_payload, 1, &local_err);
-        if (rc == -1) {
-            error_report_err(local_err);
+        if (rc != 1) {
+            if (local_err) {
+                error_report_err(local_err);
+            }
             goto fail;
         }
     }