diff --git a/src/network/bridge_driver.c b/src/network/bridge_driver.c
index 979fb13247f9b02eb0fccd409d39c99ca110ee3d..b69c40e99afeb1563746ab24eac9d4cd06431e3d 100644
--- a/src/network/bridge_driver.c
+++ b/src/network/bridge_driver.c
@@ -3253,7 +3253,8 @@ static int networkCreate(virNetworkPtr net)
     if (virNetworkCreateEnsureACL(net->conn, network->def) < 0)
         goto cleanup;
 
-    ret = networkStartNetwork(driver, network);
+    if ((ret = networkStartNetwork(driver, network)) < 0)
+        goto cleanup;
 
     event = virNetworkEventLifecycleNew(network->def->name,
                                         network->def->uuid,