diff --git a/migration/multifd.c b/migration/multifd.c
index ec58c58082..409460684f 100644
--- a/migration/multifd.c
+++ b/migration/multifd.c
@@ -883,8 +883,7 @@ static void multifd_new_send_channel_async(QIOTask *task, gpointer opaque)
 
     trace_multifd_new_send_channel_async(p->id);
     if (!qio_task_propagate_error(task, &local_err)) {
-        p->c = ioc;
-        qio_channel_set_delay(p->c, false);
+        qio_channel_set_delay(ioc, false);
         p->running = true;
         if (multifd_channel_connect(p, ioc, &local_err)) {
             return;