diff --git a/hw/xen_console.c b/hw/xen_console.c
index c6c816381..2d613ee6e 100644
--- a/hw/xen_console.c
+++ b/hw/xen_console.c
@@ -180,6 +180,7 @@ static int con_init(struct XenDevice *xendev)
 {
     struct XenConsole *con = container_of(xendev, struct XenConsole, xendev);
     char *type, *dom;
+    int ret = 0;
 
     /* setup */
     dom = xs_get_domain_path(xenstore, con->xendev.dom);
@@ -189,7 +190,8 @@ static int con_init(struct XenDevice *xendev)
     type = xenstore_read_str(con->console, "type");
     if (!type || strcmp(type, "ioemu") != 0) {
 	xen_be_printf(xendev, 1, "not for me (type=%s)\n", type);
-	return -1;
+        ret = -1;
+        goto out;
     }
 
     if (!serial_hds[con->xendev.dev])
@@ -198,7 +200,9 @@ static int con_init(struct XenDevice *xendev)
     else
         con->chr = serial_hds[con->xendev.dev];
 
-    return 0;
+out:
+    qemu_free(type);
+    return ret;
 }
 
 static int con_connect(struct XenDevice *xendev)