diff --git a/src/qemu/qemu_command.c b/src/qemu/qemu_command.c
index a9aa6702f2..46db28a7a4 100644
--- a/src/qemu/qemu_command.c
+++ b/src/qemu/qemu_command.c
@@ -6795,6 +6795,7 @@ qemuBuildCommandLine(virConnectPtr conn,
         virCommandAddArgFormat(cmd, "mlock=%s",
                                def->mem.locked ? "on" : "off");
     }
+    mlock = def->mem.locked;
 
     virCommandAddArg(cmd, "-smp");
     if (!(smp = qemuBuildSmpArgStr(def, qemuCaps)))