diff --git a/src/libxl/libxl_domain.c b/src/libxl/libxl_domain.c
index d4859d6707..d12b1b1b4b 100644
--- a/src/libxl/libxl_domain.c
+++ b/src/libxl/libxl_domain.c
@@ -769,6 +769,7 @@ libxlDomainCleanup(libxlDriverPrivatePtr driver,
         VIR_WARN("Unable to release lease on %s", vm->def->name);
     VIR_DEBUG("Preserving lock state '%s'", NULLSTR(priv->lockState));
 
+    libxlLoggerCloseFile(cfg->logger, vm->def->id);
     vm->def->id = -1;
 
     if (priv->deathW) {
@@ -822,8 +823,6 @@ libxlDomainCleanup(libxlDriverPrivatePtr driver,
         VIR_FREE(xml);
     }
 
-    libxlLoggerCloseFile(cfg->logger, vm->def->id);
-
     virDomainObjRemoveTransientDef(vm);
     virObjectUnref(cfg);
 }