diff --git a/lib/efi_loader/efi_boottime.c b/lib/efi_loader/efi_boottime.c
index b424d924896..de57823bd44 100644
--- a/lib/efi_loader/efi_boottime.c
+++ b/lib/efi_loader/efi_boottime.c
@@ -2096,8 +2096,12 @@ efi_status_t EFIAPI efi_load_image(bool boot_policy,
 	EFI_ENTRY("%d, %p, %pD, %p, %zu, %p", boot_policy, parent_image,
 		  file_path, source_buffer, source_size, image_handle);
 
-	if (!image_handle || (!source_buffer && !file_path) ||
-	    !efi_search_obj(parent_image) ||
+	if (!source_buffer && !file_path) {
+		ret = EFI_NOT_FOUND;
+		goto error;
+	}
+
+	if (!image_handle || !efi_search_obj(parent_image) ||
 	    /* The parent image handle must refer to a loaded image */
 	    !parent_image->type) {
 		ret = EFI_INVALID_PARAMETER;