diff --git a/clients/cli/devices.c b/clients/cli/devices.c
index c99efd0d64..ac3078338f 100644
--- a/clients/cli/devices.c
+++ b/clients/cli/devices.c
@@ -4037,7 +4037,6 @@ do_device_wifi_hotspot (NmCli *nmc, int argc, char **argv)
 		g_return_val_if_fail (s_wsec, NMC_RESULT_ERROR_UNKNOWN);
 
 		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);
 			return NMC_RESULT_ERROR_UNKNOWN;