diff --git a/src/qemu/qemu_hotplug.c b/src/qemu/qemu_hotplug.c
index 62de67c9f9..fcc7c0ff7d 100644
--- a/src/qemu/qemu_hotplug.c
+++ b/src/qemu/qemu_hotplug.c
@@ -1170,6 +1170,7 @@ int qemuDomainAttachHostDevice(struct qemud_driver *driver,
 
         if (usbDeviceListAdd(list, usb) < 0) {
             usbFreeDevice(usb);
+            usb = NULL:
             goto cleanup;
         }