diff --git a/hw/loader.c b/hw/loader.c
index 4c6981fc40..dd4a9a2b1c 100644
--- a/hw/loader.c
+++ b/hw/loader.c
@@ -669,7 +669,7 @@ int rom_load_all(void)
                         "addr 0x" TARGET_FMT_plx
                         ", size 0x%zx, max 0x" TARGET_FMT_plx ")\n",
                         rom->name, addr, rom->romsize, rom->max);
-                return -1;
+                continue;
             }
         } else {
             /* fixed address requested */
diff --git a/vl.c b/vl.c
index 95abe7e67f..8d9d9c239a 100644
--- a/vl.c
+++ b/vl.c
@@ -6049,7 +6049,10 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv, char **envp)
 
     qdev_machine_creation_done();
 
-    rom_load_all();
+    if (rom_load_all() != 0) {
+        fprintf(stderr, "rom loading failed\n");
+        exit(1);
+    }
 
     qemu_system_reset();
     if (loadvm) {