diff --git a/src/util/virpci.c b/src/util/virpci.c
index 0098d6c472..f1d4499f8b 100644
--- a/src/util/virpci.c
+++ b/src/util/virpci.c
@@ -801,6 +801,7 @@ virPCIDeviceTrySecondaryBusReset(virPCIDevicePtr dev,
         virReportError(VIR_ERR_INTERNAL_ERROR,
                        _("Active %s devices on bus with %s, not doing bus reset"),
                        conflict->name, dev->name);
+        virPCIDeviceFree(conflict);
         return -1;
     }