diff --git a/audio/audio.c b/audio/audio.c
index f91e05b72c..8d1e4ad922 100644
--- a/audio/audio.c
+++ b/audio/audio.c
@@ -1758,12 +1758,15 @@ static AudioState *audio_init(Audiodev *dev, Error **errp)
                 goto out;
             }
             s->dev = dev = e->dev;
+            QSIMPLEQ_REMOVE_HEAD(&default_audiodevs, next);
+            g_free(e);
             drvname = AudiodevDriver_str(dev->driver);
             driver = audio_driver_lookup(drvname);
             if (!audio_driver_init(s, driver, dev, NULL)) {
                 break;
             }
-            QSIMPLEQ_REMOVE_HEAD(&default_audiodevs, next);
+            qapi_free_Audiodev(dev);
+            s->dev = NULL;
         }
     }