diff --git a/qemu-nbd.c b/qemu-nbd.c
index de9963f8fb..fa603382d4 100644
--- a/qemu-nbd.c
+++ b/qemu-nbd.c
@@ -773,7 +773,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
         }
     } while (state != TERMINATED);
 
-    bdrv_close(bs);
+    bdrv_unref(bs);
     if (sockpath) {
         unlink(sockpath);
     }