diff --git a/src/secret/secret_driver.c b/src/secret/secret_driver.c
index 8defa4661a..d833a863f6 100644
--- a/src/secret/secret_driver.c
+++ b/src/secret/secret_driver.c
@@ -270,6 +270,8 @@ secretDefineXML(virConnectPtr conn,
         VIR_STEAL_PTR(def, objDef);
     } else {
         virSecretObjListRemove(driver->secrets, obj);
+        virObjectUnref(obj);
+        obj = NULL;
     }
 
  cleanup:
@@ -410,6 +412,8 @@ secretUndefine(virSecretPtr secret)
     virSecretObjDeleteData(obj);
 
     virSecretObjListRemove(driver->secrets, obj);
+    virObjectUnref(obj);
+    obj = NULL;
 
     ret = 0;