diff --git a/softmmu/qtest.c b/softmmu/qtest.c
index 66757ba261..35b643a274 100644
--- a/softmmu/qtest.c
+++ b/softmmu/qtest.c
@@ -399,6 +399,7 @@ static void qtest_process_command(CharBackend *chr, gchar **words)
         NamedGPIOList *ngl;
         bool is_named;
         bool is_outbound;
+        bool interception_succeeded = false;
 
         g_assert(words[1]);
         is_named = words[2] != NULL;
@@ -435,15 +436,22 @@ static void qtest_process_command(CharBackend *chr, gchar **words)
                     for (i = 0; i < ngl->num_out; ++i) {
                         qtest_install_gpio_out_intercept(dev, ngl->name, i);
                     }
+                    interception_succeeded = true;
                 }
             } else {
                 qemu_irq_intercept_in(ngl->in, qtest_irq_handler,
                                       ngl->num_in);
+                interception_succeeded = true;
             }
         }
-        irq_intercept_dev = dev;
+
         qtest_send_prefix(chr);
-        qtest_send(chr, "OK\n");
+        if (interception_succeeded) {
+            irq_intercept_dev = dev;
+            qtest_send(chr, "OK\n");
+        } else {
+            qtest_send(chr, "FAIL No intercepts installed\n");
+        }
     } else if (strcmp(words[0], "set_irq_in") == 0) {
         DeviceState *dev;
         qemu_irq irq;