diff --git a/src/qemu/qemu_process.c b/src/qemu/qemu_process.c
index d0fde5495b..9331744fd5 100644
--- a/src/qemu/qemu_process.c
+++ b/src/qemu/qemu_process.c
@@ -4224,6 +4224,10 @@ void qemuProcessStop(virQEMUDriverPtr driver,
         return;
     }
 
+    /* This method is routinely used in clean up paths. Disable error
+     * reporting so we don't squash a legit error. */
+    orig_err = virSaveLastError();
+
     /*
      * We may unlock the vm in qemuProcessKill(), and another thread
      * can lock the vm, and then call qemuProcessStop(). So we should
@@ -4256,10 +4260,6 @@ void qemuProcessStop(virQEMUDriverPtr driver,
                       virStrerror(errno, ebuf, sizeof(ebuf)));
     }
 
-    /* This method is routinely used in clean up paths. Disable error
-     * reporting so we don't squash a legit error. */
-    orig_err = virSaveLastError();
-
     virDomainConfVMNWFilterTeardown(vm);
 
     if (cfg->macFilter) {