diff --git a/src/util/virlockspace.c b/src/util/virlockspace.c
index f253091f39..9e80db6a0c 100644
--- a/src/util/virlockspace.c
+++ b/src/util/virlockspace.c
@@ -472,7 +472,7 @@ virJSONValuePtr virLockSpacePreExecRestart(virLockSpacePtr lockspace)
         goto error;
 
     virMutexUnlock(&lockspace->lock);
-    return object;
+    return g_steal_pointer(&object);
 
  error:
     virMutexUnlock(&lockspace->lock);