diff --git a/src/qemu/qemu_domain.c b/src/qemu/qemu_domain.c
index bd64409edc..3d4023c6c8 100644
--- a/src/qemu/qemu_domain.c
+++ b/src/qemu/qemu_domain.c
@@ -1573,8 +1573,6 @@ qemuDomainObjExitMonitorInternal(virQEMUDriverPtr driver,
         qemuDomainObjResetJob(priv);
         qemuDomainObjSaveJob(driver, obj);
         virCondSignal(&priv->job.cond);
-
-        virObjectUnref(obj);
     }
 }