diff --git a/src/conf/virinterfaceobj.c b/src/conf/virinterfaceobj.c
index fa7a21c054..c5dfa6c7f5 100644
--- a/src/conf/virinterfaceobj.c
+++ b/src/conf/virinterfaceobj.c
@@ -462,8 +462,7 @@ virInterfaceObjListRemove(virInterfaceObjList *interfaces,
     virObjectRWLockWrite(interfaces);
     virObjectLock(obj);
     virHashRemoveEntry(interfaces->objsName, obj->def->name);
-    virObjectUnlock(obj);
-    virObjectUnref(obj);
+    virInterfaceObjEndAPI(&obj);
     virObjectRWUnlock(interfaces);
 }