diff --git a/block/bochs.c b/block/bochs.c
index bac81c42b7..f6a18f2bcb 100644
--- a/block/bochs.c
+++ b/block/bochs.c
@@ -199,7 +199,8 @@ static inline int seek_to_sector(BlockDriverState *bs, int64_t sector_num)
     // read in bitmap for current extent
     lseek(s->fd, bitmap_offset + (extent_offset / 8), SEEK_SET);
 
-    read(s->fd, &bitmap_entry, 1);
+    if (read(s->fd, &bitmap_entry, 1) != 1)
+        return -1;
 
     if (!((bitmap_entry >> (extent_offset % 8)) & 1))
     {