diff --git a/hw/vfio/display.c b/hw/vfio/display.c
index fe624a6c9b..d28b724102 100644
--- a/hw/vfio/display.c
+++ b/hw/vfio/display.c
@@ -361,6 +361,9 @@ static int vfio_display_dmabuf_init(VFIOPCIDevice *vdev, Error **errp)
                                           vdev);
     if (vdev->enable_ramfb) {
         vdev->dpy->ramfb = ramfb_setup(errp);
+        if (!vdev->dpy->ramfb) {
+            return -EINVAL;
+        }
     }
     vfio_display_edid_init(vdev);
     return 0;
@@ -488,6 +491,9 @@ static int vfio_display_region_init(VFIOPCIDevice *vdev, Error **errp)
                                           vdev);
     if (vdev->enable_ramfb) {
         vdev->dpy->ramfb = ramfb_setup(errp);
+        if (!vdev->dpy->ramfb) {
+            return -EINVAL;
+        }
     }
     return 0;
 }