diff --git a/src/util/virpolkit.c b/src/util/virpolkit.c
index c735ca9b1f..4559431baf 100644
--- a/src/util/virpolkit.c
+++ b/src/util/virpolkit.c
@@ -138,6 +138,7 @@ int virPolkitCheckAuth(const char *actionid,
 
  cleanup:
     virStringListFreeCount(retdetails, nretdetails);
+    virDBusMessageUnref(reply);
     return ret;
 }