diff --git a/src/qemu/qemu_driver.c b/src/qemu/qemu_driver.c
index 4faa291eef..8f69b5ab64 100644
--- a/src/qemu/qemu_driver.c
+++ b/src/qemu/qemu_driver.c
@@ -5498,9 +5498,6 @@ static int qemudDomainSetVcpus(virDomainPtr dom, unsigned int nvcpus) {
     vm = virDomainFindByUUID(&driver->domains, dom->uuid);
     qemuDriverUnlock(driver);
 
-    if (qemuDomainObjBeginJob(vm) < 0)
-        goto cleanup;
-
     if (!vm) {
         char uuidstr[VIR_UUID_STRING_BUFLEN];
         virUUIDFormat(dom->uuid, uuidstr);
@@ -5509,6 +5506,9 @@ static int qemudDomainSetVcpus(virDomainPtr dom, unsigned int nvcpus) {
         goto endjob;
     }
 
+    if (qemuDomainObjBeginJob(vm) < 0)
+        goto cleanup;
+
     if (!virDomainObjIsActive(vm)) {
         qemuReportError(VIR_ERR_OPERATION_INVALID,
                          "%s", _("domain is not running"));