diff --git a/tools/virsh-util.h b/tools/virsh-util.h
index 9005aa9d36..7fdd39dd12 100644
--- a/tools/virsh-util.h
+++ b/tools/virsh-util.h
@@ -39,8 +39,11 @@ virshCommandOptDomain(vshControl *ctl,
                       const vshCmd *cmd,
                       const char **name);
 
+typedef virDomain virshDomain;
+
 void
 virshDomainFree(virDomainPtr dom);
+VIR_DEFINE_AUTOPTR_FUNC(virshDomain, virshDomainFree);
 
 void
 virshDomainCheckpointFree(virDomainCheckpointPtr chk);