diff --git a/src/qemu/qemu_domain.c b/src/qemu/qemu_domain.c
index d56dfa9f00..174c780fed 100644
--- a/src/qemu/qemu_domain.c
+++ b/src/qemu/qemu_domain.c
@@ -2167,6 +2167,11 @@ qemuDomainObjPrivateDataClear(qemuDomainObjPrivatePtr priv)
 
     virHashRemoveAll(priv->blockjobs);
     virHashRemoveAll(priv->dbusVMStates);
+
+    virObjectUnref(priv->pflash0);
+    priv->pflash0 = NULL;
+    virObjectUnref(priv->pflash1);
+    priv->pflash1 = NULL;
 }
 
 
diff --git a/src/qemu/qemu_domain.h b/src/qemu/qemu_domain.h
index 98a9540275..a545edb022 100644
--- a/src/qemu/qemu_domain.h
+++ b/src/qemu/qemu_domain.h
@@ -397,6 +397,12 @@ struct _qemuDomainObjPrivate {
 
     virHashTablePtr dbusVMStates;
     bool disableSlirp;
+
+    /* Until we add full support for backing chains for pflash drives, these
+     * pointers hold the temporary virStorageSources for creating the -blockdev
+     * commandline for pflash drives. */
+    virStorageSourcePtr pflash0;
+    virStorageSourcePtr pflash1;
 };
 
 #define QEMU_DOMAIN_PRIVATE(vm) \