diff --git a/hw/virtio-serial-bus.c b/hw/virtio-serial-bus.c
index 09d46593e2c27e2e1b3f691dff8a6f0f38e81b7b..fc0166ca7f845e9befa10581846c7d604283f82c 100644
--- a/hw/virtio-serial-bus.c
+++ b/hw/virtio-serial-bus.c
@@ -1038,6 +1038,7 @@ void virtio_serial_exit(VirtIODevice *vdev)
     g_free(vser->ports_map);
     if (vser->post_load) {
         g_free(vser->post_load->connected);
+        qemu_del_timer(vser->post_load->timer);
         qemu_free_timer(vser->post_load->timer);
         g_free(vser->post_load);
     }