diff --git a/src/qemu/qemu_monitor_json.c b/src/qemu/qemu_monitor_json.c
index 7f3e0a6012..18abf22f91 100644
--- a/src/qemu/qemu_monitor_json.c
+++ b/src/qemu/qemu_monitor_json.c
@@ -3450,6 +3450,9 @@ int qemuMonitorJSONSendKey(qemuMonitorPtr mon,
     if (!cmd)
         goto cleanup;
 
+    /* @keys is part of @cmd now. Avoid double free */
+    keys = NULL;
+
     if ((ret = qemuMonitorJSONCommand(mon, cmd, &reply)) < 0)
         goto cleanup;