diff --git a/tools/libs/light/libxl_utils.c b/tools/libs/light/libxl_utils.c
index 506c5b5631..5ae8935344 100644
--- a/tools/libs/light/libxl_utils.c
+++ b/tools/libs/light/libxl_utils.c
@@ -577,6 +577,7 @@ int libxl__remove_directory(libxl__gc *gc, const char *dirpath)
         if (errno == EINTR) continue;
         LOGE(ERROR, "failed to remove emptied directory %s", dirpath);
         rc = ERROR_FAIL;
+        break;
     }
 
  out: