diff --git a/src/qemu/qemu_driver.c b/src/qemu/qemu_driver.c
index 56bcec5ffe..c782f0dab9 100644
--- a/src/qemu/qemu_driver.c
+++ b/src/qemu/qemu_driver.c
@@ -6903,7 +6903,8 @@ endjob:
 
 cleanup:
     virDomainDefFree(def);
-    unlink(unixfile);
+    if (unixfile)
+        unlink(unixfile);
     VIR_FREE(unixfile);
     if (vm)
         virDomainObjUnlock(vm);