diff --git a/qemu/tests/cpuid.py b/qemu/tests/cpuid.py
index 7e0599fc8912e6507c7cb3c33745b0338257fcbb..1d3ee28a34c67009f3a7f7faf360ef030d37e909 100644
--- a/qemu/tests/cpuid.py
+++ b/qemu/tests/cpuid.py
@@ -535,12 +535,13 @@ def run(test, params, env):
             out = get_guest_cpuid(
                 self, cpu_model, cpu_model_flags + ',enforce',
                 extra_params=dict(machine_type=machine_type, smp=1))
-        except virt_vm.VMStartError, e:
-            if "host doesn't support requested feature:" in e.reason \
-                or ("host cpuid" in e.reason and
-                    ("lacks requested flag" in e.reason or
-                     "flag restricted to guest" in e.reason)) \
-                    or ("Unable to find CPU definition:" in e.reason):
+        except (virt_vm.VMStartError, virt_vm.VMCreateError) as e:
+            output = getattr(e, 'reason', getattr(e, 'output', ''))
+            if "host doesn't support requested feature:" in output \
+                or ("host cpuid" in output and
+                    ("lacks requested flag" in output or
+                     "flag restricted to guest" in output)) \
+                    or ("Unable to find CPU definition:" in output):
                 raise error.TestNAError(
                     "Can't run CPU model %s on this host" % (full_cpu_model_name))
             else: