diff --git a/src/util/command.c b/src/util/command.c
index d62d9d1a15cc11af0cbbd25aecdba1dafdb45329..5394a02f73a6a964d2eb4f69d86c91a482a66fb9 100644
--- a/src/util/command.c
+++ b/src/util/command.c
@@ -394,6 +394,10 @@ virExecWithHook(const char *const*argv,
     }
 
     if (pid) { /* parent */
+        if (forkRet < 0) {
+            goto cleanup;
+        }
+
         VIR_FORCE_CLOSE(null);
         if (outfd && *outfd == -1) {
             VIR_FORCE_CLOSE(pipeout[1]);
@@ -404,10 +408,6 @@ virExecWithHook(const char *const*argv,
             *errfd = pipeerr[0];
         }
 
-        if (forkRet < 0) {
-            goto cleanup;
-        }
-
         *retpid = pid;
 
         if (binary != argv[0])