diff --git a/target/riscv/kvm/kvm-cpu.c b/target/riscv/kvm/kvm-cpu.c
index c6615cb807..c3daf74fe9 100644
--- a/target/riscv/kvm/kvm-cpu.c
+++ b/target/riscv/kvm/kvm-cpu.c
@@ -792,8 +792,8 @@ static void kvm_riscv_init_multiext_cfg(RISCVCPU *cpu, KVMScratchCPU *kvmcpu)
                 val = false;
             } else {
                 error_report("Unable to read ISA_EXT KVM register %s, "
-                             "error %d", multi_ext_cfg->name, ret);
-                kvm_riscv_destroy_scratch_vcpu(kvmcpu);
+                             "error code: %s", multi_ext_cfg->name,
+                             strerrorname_np(errno));
                 exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
             }
         } else {