diff --git a/src/qemu/qemu_domain.c b/src/qemu/qemu_domain.c
index be36a9e3e4..21d54938b6 100644
--- a/src/qemu/qemu_domain.c
+++ b/src/qemu/qemu_domain.c
@@ -6490,7 +6490,6 @@ qemuDomainObjBeginJobInternal(virQEMUDriverPtr driver,
     else
         blocker = priv->job.asyncOwnerAPI;
 
-    ret = -1;
     if (errno == ETIMEDOUT) {
         if (blocker) {
             virReportError(VIR_ERR_OPERATION_TIMEOUT,