diff --git a/src/qemu/qemu_process.c b/src/qemu/qemu_process.c
index ee9f0784d3..83b5534180 100644
--- a/src/qemu/qemu_process.c
+++ b/src/qemu/qemu_process.c
@@ -287,7 +287,7 @@ qemuProcessEventSubmit(virDomainObj *vm,
     event->data = data;
 
     if (virThreadPoolSendJob(driver->workerPool, 0, event) < 0) {
-        virObjectUnref(vm);
+        virObjectUnref(event->vm);
         qemuProcessEventFree(event);
     }
 }