diff --git a/src/util/virtypedparam.c b/src/util/virtypedparam.c
index c50d29eb55..1a4393b562 100644
--- a/src/util/virtypedparam.c
+++ b/src/util/virtypedparam.c
@@ -1467,6 +1467,7 @@ virTypedParamsDeserialize(virTypedParameterRemotePtr remote_params,
         } else {
             virTypedParamsFree(*params, i);
             *params = NULL;
+            *nparams = 0;
         }
     }
     return rv;