diff --git a/src/storage/storage_driver.c b/src/storage/storage_driver.c
index df563f1bda3acd9bdefa290c54fa9c5d1a891b5c..e616ae05616367b20c9989b51ecada505443fd44 100644
--- a/src/storage/storage_driver.c
+++ b/src/storage/storage_driver.c
@@ -1280,6 +1280,7 @@ storagePoolSetAutostart(virStoragePoolPtr pool,
     if (!obj->configFile) {
         virReportError(VIR_ERR_INTERNAL_ERROR,
                        "%s", _("pool has no config file"));
+        goto cleanup;
     }
 
     autostart = (autostart != 0);