diff --git a/block.c b/block.c
index e891544dd1..06ed08ad88 100644
--- a/block.c
+++ b/block.c
@@ -1740,7 +1740,7 @@ static void multiwrite_cb(void *opaque, int ret)
 {
     MultiwriteCB *mcb = opaque;
 
-    if (ret < 0) {
+    if (ret < 0 && !mcb->error) {
         mcb->error = ret;
         multiwrite_user_cb(mcb);
     }