diff --git a/qemu-io.c b/qemu-io.c
index 72a45247da..7c6120b6ac 100644
--- a/qemu-io.c
+++ b/qemu-io.c
@@ -1317,7 +1317,7 @@ truncate_f(int argc, char **argv)
 
 	ret = bdrv_truncate(bs, offset);
 	if (ret < 0) {
-		printf("truncate: %s", strerror(ret));
+		printf("truncate: %s\n", strerror(-ret));
 		return 0;
 	}
 
@@ -1342,7 +1342,7 @@ length_f(int argc, char **argv)
 
 	size = bdrv_getlength(bs);
 	if (size < 0) {
-		printf("getlength: %s", strerror(size));
+		printf("getlength: %s\n", strerror(-size));
 		return 0;
 	}