diff --git a/blockdev.c b/blockdev.c
index d5f21f07b7..ccd6a72e92 100644
--- a/blockdev.c
+++ b/blockdev.c
@@ -1329,8 +1329,6 @@ static void external_snapshot_prepare(BlkTransactionState *common,
     if (ret != 0) {
         error_propagate(errp, local_err);
     }
-
-    QDECREF(options);
 }
 
 static void external_snapshot_commit(BlkTransactionState *common)