diff --git a/tools/console.c b/tools/console.c
index afece274f38eff000aba2ce3b6fea70bf3bc4fe1..fee2ce30acea4d6e04f857b0e95a692ae543ad8a 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);