diff --git a/src/qemu/qemu_conf.c b/src/qemu/qemu_conf.c
index 86172c6965bc001f7fde375b7bcf29101536f535..2ee20420d9bdf9572424e519cb8bc2cdd5782bd5 100644
--- a/src/qemu/qemu_conf.c
+++ b/src/qemu/qemu_conf.c
@@ -1893,7 +1893,7 @@ int qemudBuildCommandLine(virConnectPtr conn,
         }
 
         ADD_ARG_LIT("-monitor");
-        ADD_ARG_LIT(virBufferContentAndReset(&buf));
+        ADD_ARG(virBufferContentAndReset(&buf));
     }
 
     if (def->localtime)