diff --git a/hw/vfio/platform.c b/hw/vfio/platform.c
index 7c09deda61..da84abf4fc 100644
--- a/hw/vfio/platform.c
+++ b/hw/vfio/platform.c
@@ -120,11 +120,11 @@ static int vfio_set_trigger_eventfd(VFIOINTp *intp,
     *pfd = event_notifier_get_fd(intp->interrupt);
     qemu_set_fd_handler(*pfd, (IOHandler *)handler, NULL, intp);
     ret = ioctl(vbasedev->fd, VFIO_DEVICE_SET_IRQS, irq_set);
-    g_free(irq_set);
     if (ret < 0) {
         error_report("vfio: Failed to set trigger eventfd: %m");
         qemu_set_fd_handler(*pfd, NULL, NULL, NULL);
     }
+    g_free(irq_set);
     return ret;
 }