diff --git a/block/throttle-groups.c b/block/throttle-groups.c
index 77014c741b..37695b0cd7 100644
--- a/block/throttle-groups.c
+++ b/block/throttle-groups.c
@@ -893,8 +893,7 @@ static void throttle_group_set_limits(Object *obj, Visitor *v,
 {
     ThrottleGroup *tg = THROTTLE_GROUP(obj);
     ThrottleConfig cfg;
-    ThrottleLimits arg = { 0 };
-    ThrottleLimits *argp = &arg;
+    ThrottleLimits *argp;
     Error *local_err = NULL;
 
     visit_type_ThrottleLimits(v, name, &argp, &local_err);
@@ -912,6 +911,7 @@ static void throttle_group_set_limits(Object *obj, Visitor *v,
 unlock:
     qemu_mutex_unlock(&tg->lock);
 ret:
+    qapi_free_ThrottleLimits(argp);
     error_propagate(errp, local_err);
     return;
 }