diff --git a/src/libxl/libxl_driver.c b/src/libxl/libxl_driver.c
index b4f1889fbabaaa09d7e5fe1fec7b4799732f5584..212d0fcdfdfece51690dff9a0b18e9f385edbb12 100644
--- a/src/libxl/libxl_driver.c
+++ b/src/libxl/libxl_driver.c
@@ -181,26 +181,28 @@ libxlFDRegisterEventHook(void *priv, int fd, void **hndp,
         return -1;
     }
 
+    info->priv = priv;
+    /*
+     * Take a reference on the domain object.  Reference is dropped in
+     * libxlEventHookInfoFree, ensuring the domain object outlives the fd
+     * event objects.
+     */
+    virObjectRef(info->priv);
+    info->xl_priv = xl_priv;
+
     if (events & POLLIN)
         vir_events |= VIR_EVENT_HANDLE_READABLE;
     if (events & POLLOUT)
         vir_events |= VIR_EVENT_HANDLE_WRITABLE;
+
     info->id = virEventAddHandle(fd, vir_events, libxlFDEventCallback,
                                  info, libxlEventHookInfoFree);
     if (info->id < 0) {
+        virObjectUnref(info->priv);
         VIR_FREE(info);
         return -1;
     }
 
-    info->priv = priv;
-    /*
-     * Take a reference on the domain object.  Reference is dropped in
-     * libxlEventHookInfoFree, ensuring the domain object outlives the fd
-     * event objects.
-     */
-    virObjectRef(info->priv);
-
-    info->xl_priv = xl_priv;
     *hndp = info;
 
     return 0;
@@ -283,6 +285,15 @@ libxlTimeoutRegisterEventHook(void *priv,
         return -1;
     }
 
+    info->priv = priv;
+    /*
+     * Also take a reference on the domain object.  Reference is dropped in
+     * libxlEventHookInfoFree, ensuring the domain object outlives the timeout
+     * event objects.
+     */
+    virObjectRef(info->priv);
+    info->xl_priv = xl_priv;
+
     gettimeofday(&now, NULL);
     timersub(&abs_t, &now, &res);
     /* Ensure timeout is not overflowed */
@@ -296,22 +307,14 @@ libxlTimeoutRegisterEventHook(void *priv,
     info->id = virEventAddTimeout(timeout, libxlTimerCallback,
                                   info, libxlEventHookInfoFree);
     if (info->id < 0) {
+        virObjectUnref(info->priv);
         VIR_FREE(info);
         return -1;
     }
 
-    info->priv = priv;
-    /*
-     * Also take a reference on the domain object.  Reference is dropped in
-     * libxlEventHookInfoFree, ensuring the domain object outlives the timeout
-     * event objects.
-     */
-    virObjectRef(info->priv);
-
     virObjectLock(info->priv);
     LIBXL_EV_REG_APPEND(info->priv->timerRegistrations, info);
     virObjectUnlock(info->priv);
-    info->xl_priv = xl_priv;
     *hndp = info;
 
     return 0;