diff --git a/src/qemu/qemu_domain.c b/src/qemu/qemu_domain.c
index 5fe66ac672..fab316f0bd 100644
--- a/src/qemu/qemu_domain.c
+++ b/src/qemu/qemu_domain.c
@@ -947,5 +947,6 @@ cleanup:
     if (fd != logFD)
         VIR_FORCE_CLOSE(fd);
 
+    VIR_FREE(message);
     return ret;
 }