diff --git a/hw/cxl/cxl-host.c b/hw/cxl/cxl-host.c
index 483d8eb13f..faa68ef038 100644
--- a/hw/cxl/cxl-host.c
+++ b/hw/cxl/cxl-host.c
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ static void cxl_fixed_memory_window_config(CXLState *cxl_state,
                                            CXLFixedMemoryWindowOptions *object,
                                            Error **errp)
 {
-    CXLFixedWindow *fw = g_malloc0(sizeof(*fw));
+    g_autofree CXLFixedWindow *fw = g_malloc0(sizeof(*fw));
     strList *target;
     int i;
 
@@ -64,7 +64,8 @@ static void cxl_fixed_memory_window_config(CXLState *cxl_state,
         fw->enc_int_gran = 0;
     }
 
-    cxl_state->fixed_windows = g_list_append(cxl_state->fixed_windows, fw);
+    cxl_state->fixed_windows = g_list_append(cxl_state->fixed_windows,
+                                             g_steal_pointer(&fw));
 
     return;
 }