diff --git a/vsphere/resource_vsphere_virtual_machine.go b/vsphere/resource_vsphere_virtual_machine.go
index 291e7fc96..5d4e9c10f 100644
--- a/vsphere/resource_vsphere_virtual_machine.go
+++ b/vsphere/resource_vsphere_virtual_machine.go
@@ -1065,6 +1065,9 @@ func resourceVSphereVirtualMachineRead(d *schema.ResourceData, meta interface{})
 	networkInterfaces := make([]map[string]interface{}, 0)
 
 	deviceList, err := vm.Device(context.TODO())
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("failed to retrieve vm devices")
+	}
 	deviceList = deviceList.SelectByType((*types.VirtualEthernetCard)(nil))
 	log.Printf("[DEBUG] Device list %+v", deviceList)
 	for _, device := range deviceList {