diff --git a/src/util/iohelper.c b/src/util/iohelper.c
index 860e14a98f..a9c8b4cefa 100644
--- a/src/util/iohelper.c
+++ b/src/util/iohelper.c
@@ -181,8 +181,11 @@ runIO(const char *path, int fd, int oflags, unsigned long long length)
 
     /* Ensure all data is written */
     if (fdatasync(fdout) < 0) {
-        virReportSystemError(errno, _("unable to fsync %s"), fdoutname);
-        goto cleanup;
+        if (errno != EINVAL && errno != EROFS) {
+            /* fdatasync() may fail on some special FDs, e.g. pipes */
+            virReportSystemError(errno, _("unable to fsync %s"), fdoutname);
+            goto cleanup;
+        }
     }
 
     ret = 0;