diff --git a/tests/qtest/libqtest.c b/tests/qtest/libqtest.c
index be0fb430dd..e49f3a1e45 100644
--- a/tests/qtest/libqtest.c
+++ b/tests/qtest/libqtest.c
@@ -545,6 +545,7 @@ redo:
         }
     } else {
         g_strfreev(words);
+        words = NULL;
     }
 
     return words;