diff --git a/src/efivar.c b/src/efivar.c
index e335a6b9..1f9d6139 100644
--- a/src/efivar.c
+++ b/src/efivar.c
@@ -355,14 +355,8 @@ edit_variable(const char *guid_name, void *data, size_t data_size,
 		exit(1);
 	}
 
-	rc = efi_get_variable(guid, name, &old_data, &old_data_size,
-			      &old_attributes);
-	if (rc < 0 && edit_type != EDIT_WRITE) {
-		fprintf(stderr, "efivar: %m\n");
-		show_errors();
-		exit(1);
-	}
-
+	rc = efi_get_variable(guid, name, &old_data, &old_data_size, &old_attributes);
+	/* Ignore errors, as -a can be used to create a variable */
 	if (attrib != 0)
 		old_attributes = attrib;