diff --git a/src/qemu/qemu_process.c b/src/qemu/qemu_process.c
index 0f5a11b74d..d641f337ca 100644
--- a/src/qemu/qemu_process.c
+++ b/src/qemu/qemu_process.c
@@ -5092,7 +5092,6 @@ qemuProcessPrepareDomain(virConnectPtr conn,
     size_t i;
     char *nodeset = NULL;
     qemuDomainObjPrivatePtr priv = vm->privateData;
-    virQEMUDriverConfigPtr cfg = virQEMUDriverGetConfig(driver);
     virCapsPtr caps;
 
     if (!(caps = virQEMUDriverGetCapabilities(driver, false)))
@@ -5188,7 +5187,6 @@ qemuProcessPrepareDomain(virConnectPtr conn,
  cleanup:
     VIR_FREE(nodeset);
     virObjectUnref(caps);
-    virObjectUnref(cfg);
     return ret;
 }