diff --git a/hw/arm/boot.c b/hw/arm/boot.c
index 15c2bf1867..725bab8adc 100644
--- a/hw/arm/boot.c
+++ b/hw/arm/boot.c
@@ -686,7 +686,10 @@ int arm_load_dtb(hwaddr addr, const struct arm_boot_info *binfo,
     qemu_register_reset_nosnapshotload(qemu_fdt_randomize_seeds,
                                        rom_ptr_for_as(as, addr, size));
 
-    g_free(fdt);
+    if (fdt != ms->fdt) {
+        g_free(ms->fdt);
+        ms->fdt = fdt;
+    }
 
     return size;