diff --git a/src/security/security_dac.c b/src/security/security_dac.c
index 603d5b98ef..7ba367755a 100644
--- a/src/security/security_dac.c
+++ b/src/security/security_dac.c
@@ -700,7 +700,8 @@ virSecurityDACSetOwnershipInternal(const virSecurityDACData *priv,
         }
 
 #ifdef WIN32
-        rc = ENOSYS;
+        rc = -1;
+        errno = ENOSYS;
 #else /* !WIN32 */
         rc = chown(path, uid, gid);
 #endif /* !WIN32 */