diff --git a/hw/core/bus.c b/hw/core/bus.c
index ad0c9df335..4651f24486 100644
--- a/hw/core/bus.c
+++ b/hw/core/bus.c
@@ -102,6 +102,7 @@ static void qbus_realize(BusState *bus, DeviceState *parent, const char *name)
         QLIST_INSERT_HEAD(&bus->parent->child_bus, bus, sibling);
         bus->parent->num_child_bus++;
         object_property_add_child(OBJECT(bus->parent), bus->name, OBJECT(bus), NULL);
+        object_unref(OBJECT(bus));
     } else if (bus != sysbus_get_default()) {
         /* TODO: once all bus devices are qdevified,
            only reset handler for main_system_bus should be registered here. */