diff --git a/src/node_device_conf.c b/src/node_device_conf.c
index 56a9bb53a3..5b25bb7787 100644
--- a/src/node_device_conf.c
+++ b/src/node_device_conf.c
@@ -213,7 +213,7 @@ char *virNodeDeviceDefFormat(virConnectPtr conn,
                              const virNodeDeviceDefPtr def)
 {
     virBuffer buf = VIR_BUFFER_INITIALIZER;
-    virNodeDevCapsDefPtr caps = def->caps;
+    virNodeDevCapsDefPtr caps;
     char *tmp;
 
     virBufferAddLit(&buf, "<device>\n");