diff --git a/src/libxl/libxl_driver.c b/src/libxl/libxl_driver.c
index 083738871d..571b70f982 100644
--- a/src/libxl/libxl_driver.c
+++ b/src/libxl/libxl_driver.c
@@ -627,6 +627,7 @@ libxlAddDom0(libxlDriverPrivatePtr driver)
                                        NULL)))
             goto cleanup;
 
+        def = NULL;
         vm->persistent = 1;
         virDomainObjSetState(vm, VIR_DOMAIN_RUNNING, VIR_DOMAIN_RUNNING_BOOTED);
     }