diff --git a/src/qemu/qemu_hotplug.c b/src/qemu/qemu_hotplug.c
index 4c3f7da394..cb566d424f 100644
--- a/src/qemu/qemu_hotplug.c
+++ b/src/qemu/qemu_hotplug.c
@@ -163,8 +163,12 @@ qemuHotplugWaitForTrayEject(virQEMUDriverPtr driver,
             return -1;
 
         if (rc > 0) {
-            virReportError(VIR_ERR_INTERNAL_ERROR, "%s",
-                           _("timed out waiting for disk tray status update"));
+            /* the caller called qemuMonitorEjectMedia which usually reports an
+             * error. Report the failure in an off-chance that it didn't. */
+            if (!virGetLastError()) {
+                virReportError(VIR_ERR_INTERNAL_ERROR, "%s",
+                               _("timed out waiting for disk tray status update"));
+            }
             return -1;
         }
     }