diff --git a/.changelog/16059.txt b/.changelog/16059.txt
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..cc17ea9c3e7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changelog/16059.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+```release-note:bug
+sql: fixed an issue where transient server errors caused false failures for SQL operations that eventually completed successfully
+```
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/google/services/sql/sqladmin_operation.go b/google/services/sql/sqladmin_operation.go
index a4186c5b558..14e6c9b08ed 100644
--- a/google/services/sql/sqladmin_operation.go
+++ b/google/services/sql/sqladmin_operation.go
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ func (w *SqlAdminOperationWaiter) State() string {
 }
 
 func (w *SqlAdminOperationWaiter) Error() error {
-	if w != nil && w.Op != nil && w.Op.Error != nil {
+	if w != nil && w.Op != nil && w.Op.Error != nil && w.Op.Status == "DONE" {
 		return SqlAdminOperationError(*w.Op.Error)
 	}
 	return nil