diff --git a/tests/qemumonitortestutils.c b/tests/qemumonitortestutils.c
index 41beb65cb6..75f6be2038 100644
--- a/tests/qemumonitortestutils.c
+++ b/tests/qemumonitortestutils.c
@@ -160,16 +160,12 @@ static int
 qemuMonitorTestAddUnexpectedErrorResponse(qemuMonitorTestPtr test,
                                           const char *command)
 {
-    char *msg;
-    int ret;
+    VIR_AUTOFREE(char *) msg = NULL;
 
     if (virAsprintf(&msg, "unexpected command: '%s'", command) < 0)
         return -1;
 
-    ret = qemuMonitorTestAddErrorResponse(test, msg);
-
-    VIR_FREE(msg);
-    return ret;
+    return qemuMonitorTestAddErrorResponse(test, msg);
 }