diff --git a/src/qemu/qemu_hotplug.c b/src/qemu/qemu_hotplug.c
index bd8868b0f7..16070f2a57 100644
--- a/src/qemu/qemu_hotplug.c
+++ b/src/qemu/qemu_hotplug.c
@@ -4561,6 +4561,7 @@ qemuDomainRemoveHostDevice(virQEMUDriverPtr driver,
     }
 
     if (hostdev->parentnet) {
+        net = hostdev->parentnet;
         for (i = 0; i < vm->def->nnets; i++) {
             if (vm->def->nets[i] == hostdev->parentnet) {
                 virDomainNetRemove(vm->def, i);