diff --git a/src/qemu/qemu_command.c b/src/qemu/qemu_command.c
index 1425d97b1e..bf1fb539b1 100644
--- a/src/qemu/qemu_command.c
+++ b/src/qemu/qemu_command.c
@@ -5825,7 +5825,6 @@ qemuBuildHostdevCommandLine(virCommandPtr cmd,
                                                                qemuCaps,
                                                                vhostfdName))) {
                     VIR_FREE(vhostfdName);
-                    VIR_FORCE_CLOSE(vhostfd);
                     return -1;
                 }
                 virCommandAddArg(cmd, devstr);