diff --git a/src/util/virlog.c b/src/util/virlog.c
index 06f9a602e10f6417b26a7383df50ff655f03ed7e..f5b88b68f7b4107f1894650c17e6bac813b6ab44 100644
--- a/src/util/virlog.c
+++ b/src/util/virlog.c
@@ -335,11 +335,12 @@ virLogDefineFilter(const char *match,
         goto cleanup;
 
     virLogFiltersSerial++;
+    ret = virLogNbFilters - 1;
  cleanup:
     virLogUnlock();
     if (ret < 0)
         virReportOOMError();
-    return virLogNbFilters;
+    return ret;
 }
 
 /**