diff --git a/src/lxc/lxc_driver.c b/src/lxc/lxc_driver.c
index fc0df37e79..8c3bbd312e 100644
--- a/src/lxc/lxc_driver.c
+++ b/src/lxc/lxc_driver.c
@@ -2306,9 +2306,11 @@ static int lxcFreezeContainer(lxc_driver_t *driver, virDomainObjPtr vm)
     virCgroupPtr cgroup = NULL;
 
     if (!(driver->cgroup &&
-        virCgroupForDomain(driver->cgroup, vm->def->name, &cgroup, 0) == 0))
+          virCgroupForDomain(driver->cgroup, vm->def->name, &cgroup, 0) == 0))
         return -1;
 
+    /* From here on, we know that cgroup != NULL.  */
+
     while (waited_time < timeout) {
         int r;
         /*
@@ -2381,8 +2383,7 @@ error:
     ret = -1;
 
 cleanup:
-    if (cgroup)
-        virCgroupFree(&cgroup);
+    virCgroupFree(&cgroup);
     VIR_FREE(state);
     return ret;
 }