diff --git a/src/rpc/virnetserverclient.c b/src/rpc/virnetserverclient.c
index f5259c22db..d36e80ca07 100644
--- a/src/rpc/virnetserverclient.c
+++ b/src/rpc/virnetserverclient.c
@@ -721,7 +721,7 @@ virNetServerClientCreateIdentity(virNetServerClientPtr client)
 
  error:
     virObjectUnref(ret);
-    ret = 0;
+    ret = NULL;
     goto cleanup;
 }