diff --git a/src/qemu/qemu_driver.c b/src/qemu/qemu_driver.c
index 0ec5efbc2c..5eae7d24a5 100644
--- a/src/qemu/qemu_driver.c
+++ b/src/qemu/qemu_driver.c
@@ -904,6 +904,7 @@ qemuStateInitialize(bool privileged,
         virFileUpdatePerm(memoryBackingPath,
                           0, S_IXGRP | S_IXOTH) < 0)
         goto error;
+    VIR_FREE(memoryBackingPath);
 
     if (!(qemu_driver->closeCallbacks = virCloseCallbacksNew()))
         goto error;