diff --git a/hw/sd/milkymist-memcard.c b/hw/sd/milkymist-memcard.c
index 11f61294fc..747c5c6136 100644
--- a/hw/sd/milkymist-memcard.c
+++ b/hw/sd/milkymist-memcard.c
@@ -261,6 +261,9 @@ static void milkymist_memcard_init(Object *obj)
     memory_region_init_io(&s->regs_region, OBJECT(s), &memcard_mmio_ops, s,
             "milkymist-memcard", R_MAX * 4);
     sysbus_init_mmio(dev, &s->regs_region);
+
+    qbus_create_inplace(&s->sdbus, sizeof(s->sdbus), TYPE_SD_BUS,
+                        DEVICE(obj), "sd-bus");
 }
 
 static void milkymist_memcard_realize(DeviceState *dev, Error **errp)
@@ -271,9 +274,6 @@ static void milkymist_memcard_realize(DeviceState *dev, Error **errp)
     DriveInfo *dinfo;
     Error *err = NULL;
 
-    qbus_create_inplace(&s->sdbus, sizeof(s->sdbus), TYPE_SD_BUS,
-                        dev, "sd-bus");
-
     /* Create and plug in the sd card */
     /* FIXME use a qdev drive property instead of drive_get_next() */
     dinfo = drive_get_next(IF_SD);