diff --git a/src/util/virconf.c b/src/util/virconf.c
index b1509feea7..01e5a6aa70 100644
--- a/src/util/virconf.c
+++ b/src/util/virconf.c
@@ -887,8 +887,10 @@ virConfSetValue(virConfPtr conf,
 {
     virConfEntryPtr cur, prev = NULL;
 
-    if (value && value->type == VIR_CONF_STRING && value->str == NULL)
+    if (value && value->type == VIR_CONF_STRING && value->str == NULL) {
+        virConfFreeValue(value);
         return -1;
+    }
 
     cur = conf->entries;
     while (cur != NULL) {