diff --git a/src/core/execute.c b/src/core/execute.c
index 8b9bb27137..b165b33af0 100644
--- a/src/core/execute.c
+++ b/src/core/execute.c
@@ -1698,7 +1698,7 @@ static int exec_child(ExecCommand *command,
                         err = aa_change_onexec(context->apparmor_profile);
                         if (err < 0 && !context->apparmor_profile_ignore) {
                                 *error = EXIT_APPARMOR_PROFILE;
-                                return err;
+                                return -errno;
                         }
                 }
 #endif