diff --git a/src/conf/domain_conf.c b/src/conf/domain_conf.c
index e412f28ddd..cef4cf948f 100644
--- a/src/conf/domain_conf.c
+++ b/src/conf/domain_conf.c
@@ -10002,14 +10002,14 @@ void
 virDomainNetRemoveHostdev(virDomainDefPtr def,
                           virDomainNetDefPtr net)
 {
-    if (net->type == VIR_DOMAIN_NET_TYPE_HOSTDEV) {
-        /* hostdev net devices are normally also be in the hostdevs
-         * array, but might have already been removed by the time we
-         * get here.
-         */
-        virDomainHostdevDefPtr hostdev = &net->data.hostdev.def;
-        size_t i;
+    /* hostdev net devices are normally also be in the hostdevs
+     * array, but might have already been removed by the time we
+     * get here.
+     */
+    virDomainHostdevDefPtr hostdev = virDomainNetGetActualHostdev(net);
+    size_t i;
 
+    if (hostdev) {
         for (i = 0; i < def->nhostdevs; i++) {
             if (def->hostdevs[i] == hostdev) {
                 virDomainHostdevRemove(def, i);