diff --git a/src/node_device/node_device_driver.c b/src/node_device/node_device_driver.c
index d99b48138e..700776c90c 100644
--- a/src/node_device/node_device_driver.c
+++ b/src/node_device/node_device_driver.c
@@ -774,8 +774,6 @@ nodeDeviceGetMdevctlCommand(virNodeDeviceDef *def,
         }
 
         if (nodeDeviceDefToMdevctlConfig(def, &inbuf, true) < 0) {
-            virReportError(VIR_ERR_INTERNAL_ERROR, "%s",
-                           _("couldn't convert node device def to mdevctl JSON"));
             return NULL;
         }