diff --git a/blockdev.c b/blockdev.c
index 29b44a576e..31b66ccb89 100644
--- a/blockdev.c
+++ b/blockdev.c
@@ -334,7 +334,7 @@ static DriveInfo *blockdev_init(QDict *bs_opts,
     opts = qemu_opts_create(&qemu_common_drive_opts, id, 1, &error);
     if (error_is_set(&error)) {
         error_propagate(errp, error);
-        return NULL;
+        goto err_no_opts;
     }
 
     qemu_opts_absorb_qdict(opts, bs_opts, &error);
@@ -535,8 +535,9 @@ err:
     QTAILQ_REMOVE(&drives, dinfo, next);
     g_free(dinfo);
 early_err:
-    QDECREF(bs_opts);
     qemu_opts_del(opts);
+err_no_opts:
+    QDECREF(bs_opts);
     return NULL;
 }