diff --git a/src/conf/network_conf.c b/src/conf/network_conf.c
index fcfc23d983..b903df9d67 100644
--- a/src/conf/network_conf.c
+++ b/src/conf/network_conf.c
@@ -856,7 +856,6 @@ virNetworkDNSHostDefParseXML(const char *networkName,
         virReportError(VIR_ERR_XML_DETAIL,
                        _("Missing IP address in network '%s' DNS HOST record"),
                        networkName);
-        VIR_FREE(ip);
         goto error;
     }