diff --git a/arch/sandbox/cpu/state.c b/arch/sandbox/cpu/state.c
index 033958ce74..cae731c8f1 100644
--- a/arch/sandbox/cpu/state.c
+++ b/arch/sandbox/cpu/state.c
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ static int state_read_file(struct sandbox_state *state, const char *fname)
 	ret = os_get_filesize(fname, &size);
 	if (ret < 0) {
 		printf("Cannot find sandbox state file '%s'\n", fname);
-		return ret;
+		return -ENOENT;
 	}
 	state->state_fdt = os_malloc(size);
 	if (!state->state_fdt) {