diff --git a/src/qemu/qemu_driver.c b/src/qemu/qemu_driver.c
index 67d9aded7c..a3aae33c8b 100644
--- a/src/qemu/qemu_driver.c
+++ b/src/qemu/qemu_driver.c
@@ -2975,6 +2975,9 @@ static int qemudStartVMDaemon(virConnectPtr conn,
     if (virDomainSaveStatus(driver->caps, driver->stateDir, vm) < 0)
         goto abort;
 
+    if (logfile != -1)
+        close(logfile);
+
     return 0;
 
 cleanup: