diff --git a/linux-user/elfload.c b/linux-user/elfload.c
index cf9e74468b..c596871938 100644
--- a/linux-user/elfload.c
+++ b/linux-user/elfload.c
@@ -4667,9 +4667,9 @@ static int elf_core_dump(int signr, const CPUArchState *env)
     init_note_info(&info);
 
     errno = 0;
-    getrlimit(RLIMIT_CORE, &dumpsize);
-    if (dumpsize.rlim_cur == 0)
+    if (getrlimit(RLIMIT_CORE, &dumpsize) == 0 && dumpsize.rlim_cur == 0) {
         return 0;
+    }
 
     corefile = core_dump_filename(ts);