diff --git a/src/node_device/node_device_udev.c b/src/node_device/node_device_udev.c
index 7d4e8f5c0b..04e1094e21 100644
--- a/src/node_device/node_device_udev.c
+++ b/src/node_device/node_device_udev.c
@@ -2274,7 +2274,7 @@ nodeStateInitialize(bool privileged,
     if (!(priv->mdevctlMonitors = monitorFileRecursively(priv,
                                                          mdevctlConfigDir))) {
         virMutexUnlock(&priv->mdevctlLock);
-        goto cleanup;
+        goto unlock;
     }
     virMutexUnlock(&priv->mdevctlLock);