diff --git a/hw/mips/cps.c b/hw/mips/cps.c
index 1660f86908..c49868d5da 100644
--- a/hw/mips/cps.c
+++ b/hw/mips/cps.c
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ static void mips_cps_realize(DeviceState *dev, Error **errp)
         object_property_set_bool(OBJECT(&s->itu), saar_present, "saar-present",
                                  &err);
         if (saar_present) {
-            qdev_prop_set_ptr(DEVICE(&s->itu), "saar", (void *)&env->CP0_SAAR);
+            s->itu.saar = &env->CP0_SAAR;
         }
         object_property_set_bool(OBJECT(&s->itu), true, "realized", &err);
         if (err != NULL) {