diff --git a/src/lxc/conf.c b/src/lxc/conf.c
index 482d1213b..1b069e4a5 100644
--- a/src/lxc/conf.c
+++ b/src/lxc/conf.c
@@ -2042,6 +2042,9 @@ static int lxc_setup_console(const struct lxc_handler *handler,
 		ret = lxc_setup_ttydir_console(rootfs, console, ttydir);
 	else
 		ret = lxc_setup_dev_console(rootfs, console);
+	if (ret < 0)
+		return syserror("Failed to setup console");
+
 	fd_pty = move_fd(console->pty);
 
 	/*