diff --git a/src/conf/domain_conf.c b/src/conf/domain_conf.c
index 562d98b032c9ba85642a57419d514cd9544115ad..51c4e29ba73c6165c64c59159593b85cbf2fb4a5 100644
--- a/src/conf/domain_conf.c
+++ b/src/conf/domain_conf.c
@@ -17373,9 +17373,9 @@ virDomainObjListLoadAllConfigs(virDomainObjListPtr doms,
                                              notify,
                                              opaque);
         if (dom) {
-            virObjectUnlock(dom);
             if (!liveStatus)
                 dom->persistent = 1;
+            virObjectUnlock(dom);
         }
     }