diff --git a/hw/pci/pcie.c b/hw/pci/pcie.c
index fbba589aa1a14837b4499ba0f9694eada2335ad2..1abbbb192e73c86652f65a4f07186c217864ae9d 100644
--- a/hw/pci/pcie.c
+++ b/hw/pci/pcie.c
@@ -229,7 +229,7 @@ static void pcie_cap_slot_hotplug_common(PCIDevice *hotplug_dev,
         /* the slot is electromechanically locked.
          * This error is propagated up to qdev and then to HMP/QMP.
          */
-        error_setg_errno(errp, -EBUSY, "slot is electromechanically locked");
+        error_setg_errno(errp, EBUSY, "slot is electromechanically locked");
     }
 }