diff --git a/qom/object.c b/qom/object.c
index a751367e61..c7ef776b4e 100644
--- a/qom/object.c
+++ b/qom/object.c
@@ -872,9 +872,13 @@ char *object_property_get_str(Object *obj, const char *name,
 void object_property_set_link(Object *obj, Object *value,
                               const char *name, Error **errp)
 {
-    gchar *path = object_get_canonical_path(value);
-    object_property_set_str(obj, path, name, errp);
-    g_free(path);
+    if (value) {
+        gchar *path = object_get_canonical_path(value);
+        object_property_set_str(obj, path, name, errp);
+        g_free(path);
+    } else {
+        object_property_set_str(obj, "", name, errp);
+    }
 }
 
 Object *object_property_get_link(Object *obj, const char *name,