diff --git a/src/util/vireventthread.c b/src/util/vireventthread.c
index 1bca2aa57a..8342f420f6 100644
--- a/src/util/vireventthread.c
+++ b/src/util/vireventthread.c
@@ -44,7 +44,6 @@ vir_event_thread_finalize(GObject *object)
     if (evt->thread) {
         g_main_loop_quit(evt->loop);
         g_thread_join(evt->thread);
-        g_thread_unref(evt->thread);
     }
 
     g_main_loop_unref(evt->loop);