diff --git a/src/qemu/qemu_capabilities.c b/src/qemu/qemu_capabilities.c
index 49f5f75027..a409aafaa1 100644
--- a/src/qemu/qemu_capabilities.c
+++ b/src/qemu/qemu_capabilities.c
@@ -3306,6 +3306,8 @@ virQEMUCapsInitQMP(virQEMUCapsPtr qemuCaps,
     virCommandAbort(cmd);
     virCommandFree(cmd);
     VIR_FREE(monarg);
+    if (monpath)
+        ignore_value(unlink(monpath));
     VIR_FREE(monpath);
     virObjectUnref(vm);
     virObjectUnref(xmlopt);