diff --git a/util/qemu-sockets.c b/util/qemu-sockets.c
index 35023a8a92..126cbb603b 100644
--- a/util/qemu-sockets.c
+++ b/util/qemu-sockets.c
@@ -903,7 +903,7 @@ int socket_connect(SocketAddress *addr, Error **errp,
 
     case SOCKET_ADDRESS_KIND_FD:
         fd = monitor_get_fd(cur_mon, addr->fd->str, errp);
-        if (callback) {
+        if (fd >= 0 && callback) {
             qemu_set_nonblock(fd);
             callback(fd, opaque);
         }