diff --git a/iothread.c b/iothread.c
index b3c092b2d7..27a4288578 100644
--- a/iothread.c
+++ b/iothread.c
@@ -71,8 +71,6 @@ static void *iothread_run(void *opaque)
             g_main_loop_unref(loop);
 
             g_main_context_pop_thread_default(iothread->worker_context);
-            g_main_context_unref(iothread->worker_context);
-            iothread->worker_context = NULL;
         }
     }
 
@@ -117,6 +115,10 @@ static void iothread_instance_finalize(Object *obj)
     IOThread *iothread = IOTHREAD(obj);
 
     iothread_stop(iothread);
+    if (iothread->worker_context) {
+        g_main_context_unref(iothread->worker_context);
+        iothread->worker_context = NULL;
+    }
     qemu_cond_destroy(&iothread->init_done_cond);
     qemu_mutex_destroy(&iothread->init_done_lock);
     if (!iothread->ctx) {