diff --git a/common/filesystem-utils.c b/common/filesystem-utils.c
index 8c159365..66269ad9 100644
--- a/common/filesystem-utils.c
+++ b/common/filesystem-utils.c
@@ -98,7 +98,10 @@ static int set_label_unmounted(const char *dev, const char *label)
 		return -1;
 
 	trans = btrfs_start_transaction(root, 1);
-	BUG_ON(IS_ERR(trans));
+	if (IS_ERR(trans)) {
+		error_msg(ERROR_MSG_START_TRANS, "set label");
+		return PTR_ERR(trans);
+	}
 	__strncpy_null(root->fs_info->super_copy->label, label, BTRFS_LABEL_SIZE - 1);
 
 	btrfs_commit_transaction(trans, root);