diff --git a/src/util/virhook.c b/src/util/virhook.c
index 4673655dee..993f06d819 100644
--- a/src/util/virhook.c
+++ b/src/util/virhook.c
@@ -232,7 +232,7 @@ virHookCall(int driver,
 {
     int ret;
     VIR_AUTOFREE(char *) path = NULL;
-    virCommandPtr cmd;
+    VIR_AUTOPTR(virCommand) cmd = NULL;
     const char *drvstr;
     const char *opstr;
     const char *subopstr;
@@ -314,7 +314,5 @@ virHookCall(int driver,
                        virGetLastErrorMessage());
     }
 
-    virCommandFree(cmd);
-
     return ret;
 }