diff --git a/src/rpc/virkeepalive.c b/src/rpc/virkeepalive.c
index 5fe9e8bdab8dd38bedf5fdea5ef808baa0ca6ebe..f57fed4f5560560da16a585c8f58fff054451f60 100644
--- a/src/rpc/virkeepalive.c
+++ b/src/rpc/virkeepalive.c
@@ -108,7 +108,6 @@ virKeepAliveMessage(virKeepAlivePtr ka, int proc)
 
 error:
     VIR_WARN("Failed to generate keepalive %s", procstr);
-    VIR_FREE(msg);
     return NULL;
 }