diff --git a/src/qemu/qemu_command.c b/src/qemu/qemu_command.c
index 5c6299d50e..3847d3e8af 100644
--- a/src/qemu/qemu_command.c
+++ b/src/qemu/qemu_command.c
@@ -953,7 +953,7 @@ static char *
 qemuBuildNetworkDriveURI(virStorageSourcePtr src,
                          qemuDomainSecretInfoPtr secinfo)
 {
-    virURIPtr uri = NULL;
+    VIR_AUTOPTR(virURI) uri = NULL;
     char *ret = NULL;
 
     if (!(uri = qemuBlockStorageSourceGetURI(src)))
@@ -969,7 +969,6 @@ qemuBuildNetworkDriveURI(virStorageSourcePtr src,
     ret = virURIFormat(uri);
 
  cleanup:
-    virURIFree(uri);
     return ret;
 }