diff --git a/net/tap-bsd.c b/net/tap-bsd.c
index a5c3707f80..77aaf674b1 100644
--- a/net/tap-bsd.c
+++ b/net/tap-bsd.c
@@ -211,7 +211,7 @@ void tap_set_sndbuf(int fd, const NetdevTapOptions *tap, Error **errp)
 {
 }
 
-int tap_probe_vnet_hdr(int fd)
+int tap_probe_vnet_hdr(int fd, Error **errp)
 {
     return 0;
 }
diff --git a/net/tap-linux.c b/net/tap-linux.c
index e0dd442ee3..b0635e9e32 100644
--- a/net/tap-linux.c
+++ b/net/tap-linux.c
@@ -147,13 +147,15 @@ void tap_set_sndbuf(int fd, const NetdevTapOptions *tap, Error **errp)
     }
 }
 
-int tap_probe_vnet_hdr(int fd)
+int tap_probe_vnet_hdr(int fd, Error **errp)
 {
     struct ifreq ifr;
 
     if (ioctl(fd, TUNGETIFF, &ifr) != 0) {
-        error_report("TUNGETIFF ioctl() failed: %s", strerror(errno));
-        return 0;
+        /* TUNGETIFF is available since kernel v2.6.27 */
+        error_setg_errno(errp, errno,
+                         "Unable to query TUNGETIFF on FD %d", fd);
+        return -1;
     }
 
     return ifr.ifr_flags & IFF_VNET_HDR;
diff --git a/net/tap-solaris.c b/net/tap-solaris.c
index d03165c57c..0475a58207 100644
--- a/net/tap-solaris.c
+++ b/net/tap-solaris.c
@@ -207,7 +207,7 @@ void tap_set_sndbuf(int fd, const NetdevTapOptions *tap, Error **errp)
 {
 }
 
-int tap_probe_vnet_hdr(int fd)
+int tap_probe_vnet_hdr(int fd, Error **errp)
 {
     return 0;
 }
diff --git a/net/tap-stub.c b/net/tap-stub.c
index a9ab8f8293..de525a2e69 100644
--- a/net/tap-stub.c
+++ b/net/tap-stub.c
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ void tap_set_sndbuf(int fd, const NetdevTapOptions *tap, Error **errp)
 {
 }
 
-int tap_probe_vnet_hdr(int fd)
+int tap_probe_vnet_hdr(int fd, Error **errp)
 {
     return 0;
 }
diff --git a/net/tap.c b/net/tap.c
index 32e4813dbc..14dc904fca 100644
--- a/net/tap.c
+++ b/net/tap.c
@@ -598,7 +598,11 @@ int net_init_bridge(const Netdev *netdev, const char *name,
     }
 
     qemu_set_nonblock(fd);
-    vnet_hdr = tap_probe_vnet_hdr(fd);
+    vnet_hdr = tap_probe_vnet_hdr(fd, errp);
+    if (vnet_hdr < 0) {
+        close(fd);
+        return -1;
+    }
     s = net_tap_fd_init(peer, "bridge", name, fd, vnet_hdr);
 
     snprintf(s->nc.info_str, sizeof(s->nc.info_str), "helper=%s,br=%s", helper,
@@ -810,7 +814,11 @@ int net_init_tap(const Netdev *netdev, const char *name,
             return -1;
         }
 
-        vnet_hdr = tap_probe_vnet_hdr(fd);
+        vnet_hdr = tap_probe_vnet_hdr(fd, errp);
+        if (vnet_hdr < 0) {
+            close(fd);
+            return -1;
+        }
 
         net_init_tap_one(tap, peer, "tap", name, NULL,
                          script, downscript,
@@ -862,8 +870,11 @@ int net_init_tap(const Netdev *netdev, const char *name,
             }
 
             if (i == 0) {
-                vnet_hdr = tap_probe_vnet_hdr(fd);
-            } else if (vnet_hdr != tap_probe_vnet_hdr(fd)) {
+                vnet_hdr = tap_probe_vnet_hdr(fd, errp);
+                if (vnet_hdr < 0) {
+                    goto free_fail;
+                }
+            } else if (vnet_hdr != tap_probe_vnet_hdr(fd, NULL)) {
                 error_setg(errp,
                            "vnet_hdr not consistent across given tap fds");
                 ret = -1;
@@ -908,7 +919,11 @@ free_fail:
         }
 
         qemu_set_nonblock(fd);
-        vnet_hdr = tap_probe_vnet_hdr(fd);
+        vnet_hdr = tap_probe_vnet_hdr(fd, errp);
+        if (vnet_hdr < 0) {
+            close(fd);
+            return -1;
+        }
 
         net_init_tap_one(tap, peer, "bridge", name, ifname,
                          script, downscript, vhostfdname,
diff --git a/net/tap_int.h b/net/tap_int.h
index e3194b23f4..225a49ea48 100644
--- a/net/tap_int.h
+++ b/net/tap_int.h
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ int tap_open(char *ifname, int ifname_size, int *vnet_hdr,
 ssize_t tap_read_packet(int tapfd, uint8_t *buf, int maxlen);
 
 void tap_set_sndbuf(int fd, const NetdevTapOptions *tap, Error **errp);
-int tap_probe_vnet_hdr(int fd);
+int tap_probe_vnet_hdr(int fd, Error **errp);
 int tap_probe_vnet_hdr_len(int fd, int len);
 int tap_probe_has_ufo(int fd);
 void tap_fd_set_offload(int fd, int csum, int tso4, int tso6, int ecn, int ufo);