diff --git a/src/test/test_driver.c b/src/test/test_driver.c
index 9ec4d806e194e31da269de450adb246939099d4f..d5e0db38abdd601600b1cf18a30f63d71b095b69 100644
--- a/src/test/test_driver.c
+++ b/src/test/test_driver.c
@@ -1472,6 +1472,7 @@ static int testConnectClose(virConnectPtr conn)
         dflt = true;
         virMutexLock(&defaultLock);
         if (--defaultConnections) {
+            conn->privateData = NULL;
             virMutexUnlock(&defaultLock);
             return 0;
         }