diff --git a/hw/virtio/virtio.c b/hw/virtio/virtio.c
index 3b938c8..a3082d5 100644
--- a/hw/virtio/virtio.c
+++ b/hw/virtio/virtio.c
@@ -1165,11 +1165,7 @@
 void virtio_device_set_child_bus_name(VirtIODevice *vdev, char *bus_name)
 {
     g_free(vdev->bus_name);
-    vdev->bus_name = NULL;
-
-    if (bus_name) {
-        vdev->bus_name = g_strdup(bus_name);
-    }
+    vdev->bus_name = g_strdup(bus_name);
 }
 
 static void virtio_device_realize(DeviceState *dev, Error **errp)