diff --git a/virtManager/domain.py b/virtManager/domain.py
index 585f64bad..c5581993d 100644
--- a/virtManager/domain.py
+++ b/virtManager/domain.py
@@ -1474,14 +1474,15 @@ class vmmDomain(vmmLibvirtObject):
         if unsafe:
             flags |= libvirt.VIR_MIGRATE_UNSAFE
 
-        destconn = destconn.get_backend().get_conn_for_api_arg()
+        libvirt_destconn = destconn.get_backend().get_conn_for_api_arg()
         logging.debug("Migrating: conn=%s flags=%s dname=%s uri=%s rate=%s",
                       destconn, flags, newname, interface, rate)
 
         if meter:
             start_job_progress_thread(self, meter, _("Migrating domain"))
 
-        self._backend.migrate(destconn, flags, newname, interface, rate)
+        self._backend.migrate(
+            libvirt_destconn, flags, newname, interface, rate)
 
         def define_cb():
             newxml = self.get_xml(inactive=True)