diff --git a/src/qemu/qemu_domain.c b/src/qemu/qemu_domain.c
index 20ac408d15..bd7d8a4c6a 100644
--- a/src/qemu/qemu_domain.c
+++ b/src/qemu/qemu_domain.c
@@ -2426,11 +2426,16 @@ qemuDomainRemoveInactive(virQEMUDriverPtr driver,
             VIR_WARN("unable to remove snapshot directory %s", snapDir);
         VIR_FREE(snapDir);
     }
+
+    virObjectRef(vm);
+
     virDomainObjListRemove(driver->domains, vm);
     virObjectUnref(cfg);
 
     if (haveJob)
         qemuDomainObjEndJob(driver, vm);
+
+    virObjectUnref(vm);
 }
 
 void
diff --git a/src/qemu/qemu_process.c b/src/qemu/qemu_process.c
index cd71741ab1..46f02b5fde 100644
--- a/src/qemu/qemu_process.c
+++ b/src/qemu/qemu_process.c
@@ -5694,8 +5694,10 @@ qemuProcessAutoDestroy(virDomainObjPtr dom,
 
     qemuDomainObjEndJob(driver, dom);
 
-    if (!dom->persistent)
+    if (!dom->persistent) {
         qemuDomainRemoveInactive(driver, dom);
+        dom = NULL;
+    }
 
     if (event)
         qemuDomainEventQueue(driver, event);