diff --git a/net/tap.c b/net/tap.c
index f716be3e3fba..c5cbeaa7a2be 100644
--- a/net/tap.c
+++ b/net/tap.c
@@ -900,6 +900,7 @@ int net_init_tap(const Netdev *netdev, const char *name,
             if (i == 0) {
                 vnet_hdr = tap_probe_vnet_hdr(fd, errp);
                 if (vnet_hdr < 0) {
+                    ret = -1;
                     goto free_fail;
                 }
             } else if (vnet_hdr != tap_probe_vnet_hdr(fd, NULL)) {