diff --git a/qga/commands.c b/qga/commands.c
index efc8b90281..d3fec807c1 100644
--- a/qga/commands.c
+++ b/qga/commands.c
@@ -515,11 +515,20 @@ int ga_parse_whence(GuestFileWhence *whence, Error **errp)
 GuestHostName *qmp_guest_get_host_name(Error **errp)
 {
     GuestHostName *result = NULL;
-    gchar const *hostname = g_get_host_name();
-    if (hostname != NULL) {
-        result = g_new0(GuestHostName, 1);
-        result->host_name = g_strdup(hostname);
+    g_autofree char *hostname = qemu_get_host_name(errp);
+
+    /*
+     * We want to avoid using g_get_host_name() because that
+     * caches the result and we wouldn't reflect changes in the
+     * host name.
+     */
+
+    if (!hostname) {
+        hostname = g_strdup("localhost");
     }
+
+    result = g_new0(GuestHostName, 1);
+    result->host_name = g_steal_pointer(&hostname);
     return result;
 }