diff --git a/src/conf/interface_conf.c b/src/conf/interface_conf.c
index 5601d3b87f..0aeb1e2d1a 100644
--- a/src/conf/interface_conf.c
+++ b/src/conf/interface_conf.c
@@ -769,7 +769,8 @@ virInterfaceDefParseXML(xmlXPathContextPtr ctxt, int parentIfType) {
             }
             def->data.bridge.delay = virXMLPropString(bridge, "delay");
             ctxt->node = bridge;
-            virInterfaceDefParseBridge(def, ctxt);
+            if (virInterfaceDefParseBridge(def, ctxt) < 0)
+                goto error;
             break;
         }
         case VIR_INTERFACE_TYPE_BOND: {