diff --git a/src/qemu/qemu_driver.c b/src/qemu/qemu_driver.c
index 72907d212fb2da4e59780114010a5a8b19243467..6d4c1e9f18fb1ec3613f2c9c11d6c76d653cacd6 100644
--- a/src/qemu/qemu_driver.c
+++ b/src/qemu/qemu_driver.c
@@ -2439,6 +2439,7 @@ endjob:
 cleanup:
     if (vm)
         virObjectUnlock(vm);
+    qemuDriverUnlock(driver);
     return ret;
 }