diff --git a/devicemodel/core/main.c b/devicemodel/core/main.c
index f2b30e0d3..dc9fb4359 100644
--- a/devicemodel/core/main.c
+++ b/devicemodel/core/main.c
@@ -1068,6 +1068,7 @@ dev_fail:
 mevent_fail:
 	vm_unsetup_memory(ctx);
 fail:
+	vm_pause(ctx);
 	vm_destroy(ctx);
 create_fail:
 	uninit_hugetlb();