diff --git a/src/qemu/qemu_driver.c b/src/qemu/qemu_driver.c
index 8505669a15..dd12dc8550 100644
--- a/src/qemu/qemu_driver.c
+++ b/src/qemu/qemu_driver.c
@@ -2068,13 +2068,13 @@ static int qemudDomainSave(virDomainPtr dom, const char *path)
             qemuReportError(VIR_ERR_OPERATION_FAILED,
                             "%s", _("Invalid save image format specified "
                                     "in configuration file"));
-            return -1;
+            goto cleanup;
         }
         if (!qemudCompressProgramAvailable(compressed)) {
             qemuReportError(VIR_ERR_OPERATION_FAILED,
                             "%s", _("Compression program for image format "
                                     "in configuration file isn't available"));
-            return -1;
+            goto cleanup;
         }
     }