diff --git a/usr.sbin/bhyvectl/bhyvectl.c b/usr.sbin/bhyvectl/bhyvectl.c
--- a/usr.sbin/bhyvectl/bhyvectl.c
+++ b/usr.sbin/bhyvectl/bhyvectl.c
@@ -249,12 +249,13 @@
 	}
 }
 
-#ifdef BHYVE_SNAPSHOT
 static int
-send_message(const char *vmname, nvlist_t *nvl)
+ipc_send_message(const char *vmname, nvlist_t *request)
 {
 	struct sockaddr_un addr;
 	int err = 0, socket_fd;
+	const char* errmsg;
+	nvlist_t *reply;
 
 	socket_fd = socket(PF_UNIX, SOCK_STREAM, 0);
 	if (socket_fd < 0) {
@@ -275,18 +276,27 @@
 		goto done;
 	}
 
-	if (nvlist_send(socket_fd, nvl) < 0) {
-		perror("nvlist_send() failed");
-		err = errno;
+	reply = nvlist_xfer(socket_fd, request, 0);
+	request = NULL;
+	if (reply == NULL) {
+		perror("nvlist_xfer() failed");
+		goto done;
+	}
+	if (nvlist_exists_string(reply, "error")) {
+		errmsg = nvlist_get_string(reply, "error");
+		fprintf(stderr, "%s: IPC command failed: %s\n", __func__, errmsg);
+		err = -1;
 	}
 done:
-	nvlist_destroy(nvl);
+	if (request != NULL)
+		nvlist_destroy(request);
 
 	if (socket_fd >= 0)
 		close(socket_fd);
 	return (err);
 }
 
+#ifdef BHYVE_SNAPSHOT
 static int
 open_directory(const char *file)
 {
@@ -318,7 +328,7 @@
 	nvlist_add_bool(nvl, "suspend", suspend);
 	nvlist_move_descriptor(nvl, "fddir", fd);
 
-	return (send_message(vmname, nvl));
+	return (ipc_send_message(vmname, nvl));
 }
 #endif