diff --git a/src/ch/ch_driver.c b/src/ch/ch_driver.c
index 7baacd7400..ac958d73a8 100644
--- a/src/ch/ch_driver.c
+++ b/src/ch/ch_driver.c
@@ -827,6 +827,7 @@ static int chStateCleanup(void)
     virObjectUnref(ch_driver->config);
     virMutexDestroy(&ch_driver->lock);
     g_free(ch_driver);
+    ch_driver = NULL;
 
     return 0;
 }