diff --git a/tools/virt-host-validate-ch.c b/tools/virt-host-validate-ch.c
index b00fdd0e90..b26f82738d 100644
--- a/tools/virt-host-validate-ch.c
+++ b/tools/virt-host-validate-ch.c
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@
 int virHostValidateCh(void)
 {
     int ret = 0;
-    virBitmap *flags;
+    g_autoptr(virBitmap) flags = NULL;
     bool hasHwVirt = false;
     bool hasVirtFlag = false;
     virArch arch = virArchFromHost();