diff --git a/server/red-channel.c b/server/red-channel.c
index 9559547c..9ff3474a 100644
--- a/server/red-channel.c
+++ b/server/red-channel.c
@@ -401,6 +401,9 @@ void red_channel_destroy(RedChannel *channel)
         return;
     }
 
+    // prevent future connection
+    reds_unregister_channel(channel->priv->reds, channel);
+
     g_list_foreach(channel->priv->clients, (GFunc)red_channel_client_destroy, NULL);
     g_object_unref(channel);
 }
diff --git a/server/red-worker.c b/server/red-worker.c
index b510079d..03a409cd 100644
--- a/server/red-worker.c
+++ b/server/red-worker.c
@@ -1419,12 +1419,6 @@ static void red_worker_close_channel(RedChannel *channel)
  */
 void red_worker_free(RedWorker *worker)
 {
-    RedsState *reds = red_qxl_get_server(worker->qxl->st);
-
-    /* prevent any possible future attempt to connect to new clients */
-    reds_unregister_channel(reds, RED_CHANNEL(worker->cursor_channel));
-    reds_unregister_channel(reds, RED_CHANNEL(worker->display_channel));
-
     pthread_join(worker->thread, NULL);
 
     red_worker_close_channel(RED_CHANNEL(worker->cursor_channel));
diff --git a/server/reds.c b/server/reds.c
index 03fa25d1..84c2e466 100644
--- a/server/reds.c
+++ b/server/reds.c
@@ -391,11 +391,7 @@ void reds_register_channel(RedsState *reds, RedChannel *channel)
 
 void reds_unregister_channel(RedsState *reds, RedChannel *channel)
 {
-    if (g_list_find(reds->channels, channel)) {
-        reds->channels = g_list_remove(reds->channels, channel);
-    } else {
-        spice_warning("not found");
-    }
+    reds->channels = g_list_remove(reds->channels, channel);
 }
 
 RedChannel *reds_find_channel(RedsState *reds, uint32_t type, uint32_t id)
@@ -3705,7 +3701,6 @@ SPICE_GNUC_VISIBLE void spice_server_destroy(SpiceServer *reds)
     g_list_free_full(reds->qxl_instances, (GDestroyNotify)red_qxl_destroy);
 
     if (reds->inputs_channel) {
-        reds_unregister_channel(reds, RED_CHANNEL(reds->inputs_channel));
         red_channel_destroy(RED_CHANNEL(reds->inputs_channel));
     }
     if (reds->main_channel) {
diff --git a/server/sound.c b/server/sound.c
index be7e6076..54b89713 100644
--- a/server/sound.c
+++ b/server/sound.c
@@ -1428,9 +1428,7 @@ static void snd_detach_common(SndChannel *channel)
     if (!channel) {
         return;
     }
-    RedsState *reds = red_channel_get_server(RED_CHANNEL(channel));
 
-    reds_unregister_channel(reds, RED_CHANNEL(channel));
     red_channel_destroy(RED_CHANNEL(channel));
 }
 
diff --git a/server/spicevmc.c b/server/spicevmc.c
index a6ca59fb..9305c9b4 100644
--- a/server/spicevmc.c
+++ b/server/spicevmc.c
@@ -892,17 +892,11 @@ red_char_device_spicevmc_dispose(GObject *object)
     RedCharDeviceSpiceVmc *self = RED_CHAR_DEVICE_SPICEVMC(object);
 
     if (self->channel) {
-        RedChannel *channel = RED_CHANNEL(self->channel);
-        RedsState *reds = red_char_device_get_server(RED_CHAR_DEVICE(self));
-
         // prevent possible recursive calls
         self->channel->chardev = NULL;
 
-        // prevent future connection
-        reds_unregister_channel(reds, channel);
-
         // close all current connections and drop the reference
-        red_channel_destroy(channel);
+        red_channel_destroy(RED_CHANNEL(self->channel));
         self->channel = NULL;
     }
     G_OBJECT_CLASS(red_char_device_spicevmc_parent_class)->dispose(object);