diff --git a/src/qemu/qemu_driver.c b/src/qemu/qemu_driver.c
index e963ed384a..c9aa8cb38d 100644
--- a/src/qemu/qemu_driver.c
+++ b/src/qemu/qemu_driver.c
@@ -1955,7 +1955,11 @@ qemuDomainDestroyFlags(virDomainPtr dom,
             goto cleanup;
         }
     } else {
-        ignore_value(qemuProcessKill(driver, vm, VIR_QEMU_PROCESS_KILL_FORCE));
+        if (qemuProcessKill(driver, vm, VIR_QEMU_PROCESS_KILL_FORCE) < 0) {
+            virReportError(VIR_ERR_OPERATION_FAILED, "%s",
+                           _("failed to kill qemu process with SIGTERM"));
+            goto cleanup;
+        }
     }
 
     /* We need to prevent monitor EOF callback from doing our work (and sending