diff --git a/virtualbmc/tests/unit/test_vbmc.py b/virtualbmc/tests/unit/test_vbmc.py
index 9d6f66e..8f37764 100644
--- a/virtualbmc/tests/unit/test_vbmc.py
+++ b/virtualbmc/tests/unit/test_vbmc.py
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 import libvirt
 import mock
 
+from virtualbmc import exception
 from virtualbmc.tests.unit import base
 from virtualbmc.tests.unit import utils as test_utils
 from virtualbmc import utils
@@ -132,8 +133,7 @@ class VirtualBMCTestCase(base.TestCase):
     def test_get_power_state_error(self, mock_libvirt_domain,
                                    mock_libvirt_open):
         mock_libvirt_domain.side_effect = libvirt.libvirtError('boom')
-        ret = self.vbmc.get_power_state()
-        self.assertEqual(0xC0, ret)
+        self.assertRaises(exception.VirtualBMCError, self.vbmc.get_power_state)
         self._assert_libvirt_calls(mock_libvirt_domain, mock_libvirt_open,
                                    readonly=True)
 
diff --git a/virtualbmc/vbmc.py b/virtualbmc/vbmc.py
index d0ab380..0ce1424 100644
--- a/virtualbmc/vbmc.py
+++ b/virtualbmc/vbmc.py
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ import xml.etree.ElementTree as ET
 import libvirt
 import pyghmi.ipmi.bmc as bmc
 
+from virtualbmc import exception
 from virtualbmc import log
 from virtualbmc import utils
 
@@ -116,11 +117,11 @@ class VirtualBMC(bmc.Bmc):
                 if domain.isActive():
                     return POWERON
         except libvirt.libvirtError as e:
-            LOG.error('Error getting the power state of domain %(domain)s. '
-                      'Error: %(error)s', {'domain': self.domain_name,
-                                           'error': e})
-            # Command failed, but let client to retry
-            return IPMI_COMMAND_NODE_BUSY
+            msg = ('Error getting the power state of domain %(domain)s. '
+                   'Error: %(error)s', {'domain': self.domain_name,
+                                        'error': e})
+            LOG.error(msg)
+            raise exception.VirtualBMCError(message=msg)
 
         return POWEROFF