diff --git a/include/migration/misc.h b/include/migration/misc.h
index c079b7771b..77fd4f587c 100644
--- a/include/migration/misc.h
+++ b/include/migration/misc.h
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ void dump_vmstate_json_to_file(FILE *out_fp);
 
 /* migration/migration.c */
 void migration_object_init(void);
+void migration_object_finalize(void);
 void qemu_start_incoming_migration(const char *uri, Error **errp);
 bool migration_is_idle(void);
 void add_migration_state_change_notifier(Notifier *notify);
diff --git a/migration/migration.c b/migration/migration.c
index 17cc219da2..7a77b193c1 100644
--- a/migration/migration.c
+++ b/migration/migration.c
@@ -132,6 +132,11 @@ void migration_object_init(void)
     }
 }
 
+void migration_object_finalize(void)
+{
+    object_unref(OBJECT(current_migration));
+}
+
 /* For outgoing */
 MigrationState *migrate_get_current(void)
 {
diff --git a/vl.c b/vl.c
index 444b7507da..f1c52fe9fe 100644
--- a/vl.c
+++ b/vl.c
@@ -4792,6 +4792,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv, char **envp)
     monitor_cleanup();
     qemu_chr_cleanup();
     user_creatable_cleanup();
+    migration_object_finalize();
     /* TODO: unref root container, check all devices are ok */
 
     return 0;