diff --git a/net/vhost-user.c b/net/vhost-user.c
index b0f0ab6cc8..77b8110f8c 100644
--- a/net/vhost-user.c
+++ b/net/vhost-user.c
@@ -151,7 +151,10 @@ static void vhost_user_cleanup(NetClientState *nc)
         s->vhost_net = NULL;
     }
     if (nc->queue_index == 0) {
+        Chardev *chr = qemu_chr_fe_get_driver(&s->chr);
+
         qemu_chr_fe_deinit(&s->chr);
+        qemu_chr_delete(chr);
     }
 
     qemu_purge_queued_packets(nc);