diff --git a/libsemanage/src/direct_api.c b/libsemanage/src/direct_api.c
index 85876676a..a271a5766 100644
--- a/libsemanage/src/direct_api.c
+++ b/libsemanage/src/direct_api.c
@@ -1354,7 +1354,9 @@ static int semanage_direct_commit(semanage_handle_t * sh)
 		cil_set_multiple_decls(cildb, sh->conf->multiple_decls);
 
 		if (sh->conf->handle_unknown != -1) {
-			cil_set_handle_unknown(cildb, sh->conf->handle_unknown);
+			retval = cil_set_handle_unknown(cildb, sh->conf->handle_unknown);
+			if (retval < 0)
+				goto cleanup;
 		}
 
 		retval = semanage_load_files(sh, cildb, mod_filenames, num_modinfos);