diff --git a/src/qemu/qemu_driver.c b/src/qemu/qemu_driver.c
index fabd41b95c..5f1d6b59f4 100644
--- a/src/qemu/qemu_driver.c
+++ b/src/qemu/qemu_driver.c
@@ -6489,8 +6489,11 @@ static int qemudDomainStart(virDomainPtr dom) {
          * We should still have a reference left to vm but
          * one should check for 0 anyway
          */
-        if (qemuDomainObjEndJob(vm) == 0)
+        if (qemuDomainObjEndJob(vm) = 0) {
             vm = NULL;
+            goto cleanup;
+        }
+
         virDomainObjUnlock(vm);
         qemuDriverUnlock(driver);
         ret = qemudDomainRestore(dom->conn, managed_save);