diff --git a/tools/console.c b/tools/console.c
index 34fde05eb707821058cffa3787d3ad45b1ca6488..cec874000cae6980e4556ae1070ea152493e6f4a 100644
--- a/tools/console.c
+++ b/tools/console.c
@@ -101,6 +101,7 @@ virConsoleShutdown(virConsolePtr con)
         virStreamEventRemoveCallback(con->st);
         virStreamAbort(con->st);
         virStreamFree(con->st);
+        con->st = NULL;
     }
     VIR_FREE(con->streamToTerminal.data);
     VIR_FREE(con->terminalToStream.data);