diff --git a/src/util/virlockspace.c b/src/util/virlockspace.c
index b90e13f506..71d5dfb83e 100644
--- a/src/util/virlockspace.c
+++ b/src/util/virlockspace.c
@@ -515,7 +515,7 @@ int virLockSpaceCreateResource(virLockSpacePtr lockspace,
                                const char *resname)
 {
     int ret = -1;
-    char *respath = NULL;
+    g_autofree char *respath = NULL;
 
     VIR_DEBUG("lockspace=%p resname=%s", lockspace, resname);
 
@@ -538,7 +538,6 @@ int virLockSpaceCreateResource(virLockSpacePtr lockspace,
 
  cleanup:
     virMutexUnlock(&lockspace->lock);
-    VIR_FREE(respath);
     return ret;
 }
 
@@ -547,7 +546,7 @@ int virLockSpaceDeleteResource(virLockSpacePtr lockspace,
                                const char *resname)
 {
     int ret = -1;
-    char *respath = NULL;
+    g_autofree char *respath = NULL;
 
     VIR_DEBUG("lockspace=%p resname=%s", lockspace, resname);
 
@@ -575,7 +574,6 @@ int virLockSpaceDeleteResource(virLockSpacePtr lockspace,
 
  cleanup:
     virMutexUnlock(&lockspace->lock);
-    VIR_FREE(respath);
     return ret;
 }