diff --git a/src/qemu/qemu_backup.c b/src/qemu/qemu_backup.c
index db8b2d8ff9c5fdd2601109156b6ab20163e9845d..531005425bcf8f160469f8f3666a3d8a2c41c87f 100644
--- a/src/qemu/qemu_backup.c
+++ b/src/qemu/qemu_backup.c
@@ -806,7 +806,7 @@ qemuBackupBegin(virDomainObjPtr vm,
         ignore_value(qemuDomainObjExitMonitor(priv->driver, vm));
     }
 
-    if (ret < 0 && !job_started)
+    if (ret < 0 && !job_started && priv->backup)
         def = g_steal_pointer(&priv->backup);
 
     if (ret == 0)