diff --git a/src/util/virhostdev.c b/src/util/virhostdev.c
index 7b5ccf2daf..91359a310d 100644
--- a/src/util/virhostdev.c
+++ b/src/util/virhostdev.c
@@ -963,16 +963,16 @@ virHostdevReAttachPCIDevices(virHostdevManagerPtr mgr,
     if (!nhostdevs)
         return;
 
-    virObjectLock(mgr->activePCIHostdevs);
-    virObjectLock(mgr->inactivePCIHostdevs);
-
     if (!(pcidevs = virHostdevGetPCIHostDeviceList(hostdevs, nhostdevs))) {
         VIR_ERROR(_("Failed to allocate PCI device list: %s"),
                   virGetLastErrorMessage());
         virResetLastError();
-        goto cleanup;
+        return;
     }
 
+    virObjectLock(mgr->activePCIHostdevs);
+    virObjectLock(mgr->inactivePCIHostdevs);
+
     /* Reattaching devices to the host involves several steps; each
      * of them is described at length below */
 
@@ -1088,10 +1088,9 @@ virHostdevReAttachPCIDevices(virHostdevManagerPtr mgr,
                       virPCIDeviceGetName(actual));
     }
 
- cleanup:
-    virObjectUnref(pcidevs);
     virObjectUnlock(mgr->activePCIHostdevs);
     virObjectUnlock(mgr->inactivePCIHostdevs);
+    virObjectUnref(pcidevs);
 }
 
 int