diff --git a/block.c b/block.c
index a517d72d71..310ea89fce 100644
--- a/block.c
+++ b/block.c
@@ -1228,6 +1228,7 @@ int bdrv_open_image(BlockDriverState **pbs, const char *filename,
                        bdref_key);
             ret = -EINVAL;
         }
+        QDECREF(image_options);
         goto done;
     }