diff --git a/blockdev.c b/blockdev.c
index 5dd01ea147..fbfdc27987 100644
--- a/blockdev.c
+++ b/blockdev.c
@@ -902,6 +902,7 @@ DriveInfo *drive_init(QemuOpts *all_opts, BlockInterfaceType block_default_type)
 
     /* Actual block device init: Functionality shared with blockdev-add */
     dinfo = blockdev_init(filename, bs_opts, &local_err);
+    bs_opts = NULL;
     if (dinfo == NULL) {
         if (local_err) {
             qerror_report_err(local_err);
@@ -939,6 +940,7 @@ DriveInfo *drive_init(QemuOpts *all_opts, BlockInterfaceType block_default_type)
 
 fail:
     qemu_opts_del(legacy_opts);
+    QDECREF(bs_opts);
     return dinfo;
 }