diff --git a/src/rpc/virnetserverclient.c b/src/rpc/virnetserverclient.c
index 85239dddf0..af0560ed2d 100644
--- a/src/rpc/virnetserverclient.c
+++ b/src/rpc/virnetserverclient.c
@@ -1356,13 +1356,9 @@ virNetServerClientInitKeepAlive(virNetServerClientPtr client,
     virObjectRef(client);
 
     client->keepalive = ka;
-    ka = NULL;
 
 cleanup:
     virObjectUnlock(client);
-    if (ka)
-        virKeepAliveStop(ka);
-    virObjectUnref(ka);
 
     return ret;
 }