diff --git a/src/qemu/qemu_conf.c b/src/qemu/qemu_conf.c
index 2d5e527b47..2d4e2a46f3 100644
--- a/src/qemu/qemu_conf.c
+++ b/src/qemu/qemu_conf.c
@@ -969,7 +969,7 @@ static int
 virQEMUDriverConfigLoadMemoryEntry(virQEMUDriverConfigPtr cfg,
                                    virConfPtr conf)
 {
-    char *dir = NULL;
+    g_autofree char *dir = NULL;
     int rc;
 
     if ((rc = virConfGetValueString(conf, "memory_backing_dir", &dir)) < 0) {