diff --git a/util/qemu-sockets.c b/util/qemu-sockets.c
index 98ff3a1cce..bcc06d0e01 100644
--- a/util/qemu-sockets.c
+++ b/util/qemu-sockets.c
@@ -461,12 +461,13 @@ int inet_connect_saddr(InetSocketAddress *saddr, Error **errp)
         }
     }
 
+    freeaddrinfo(res);
+
     if (sock < 0) {
         error_propagate(errp, local_err);
+        return sock;
     }
 
-    freeaddrinfo(res);
-
     if (saddr->keep_alive) {
         int val = 1;
         int ret = qemu_setsockopt(sock, SOL_SOCKET, SO_KEEPALIVE,