diff --git a/libguestfs-inspect.c b/libguestfs-inspect.c
index 3e0d6d0..b22c7a0 100644
--- a/libguestfs-inspect.c
+++ b/libguestfs-inspect.c
@@ -53,7 +53,9 @@ zmsg_t *guestfs_inspect_command_to_zmsg(struct guestfs_inpsect_command *command)
   return res;
 }
 
-struct guestfs_inpsect_command *guestfs_inspect_zmsg_to_command(zmsg_t *msg) {
+struct guestfs_inpsect_command *guestfs_inspect_zmsg_to_command(zmsg_t *external_msg) {
+  // This way we do not modify the argument we are given.
+  zmsg_t *msg = zmsg_dup(external_msg);
   struct guestfs_inpsect_command *res = malloc(sizeof(struct guestfs_inpsect_command));
 
   res->name = zmsg_popstr(msg);
@@ -85,6 +87,8 @@ struct guestfs_inpsect_command *guestfs_inspect_zmsg_to_command(zmsg_t *msg) {
     }
     break;
   }
+  zmsg_destroy(&msg);
+  
   return res;
 }