diff --git a/clients/cli/devices.c b/clients/cli/devices.c
index d5224b9301..1f8d0e4215 100644
--- a/clients/cli/devices.c
+++ b/clients/cli/devices.c
@@ -4174,7 +4174,6 @@ do_device_wifi_hotspot (const NMCCommand *cmd, NmCli *nmc, int argc, const char
 		g_return_if_fail (s_wsec);
 
 		if (!set_wireless_security_for_hotspot (s_wsec, wifi_mode, caps, password, show_password, &error)) {
-			g_object_unref (connection);
 			g_string_printf (nmc->return_text, _("Error: Invalid 'password': %s."), error->message);
 			g_clear_error (&error);
 			nmc->return_value = NMC_RESULT_ERROR_UNKNOWN;