diff --git a/subprojects/libvhost-user/libvhost-user.c b/subprojects/libvhost-user/libvhost-user.c
index 051a611da3..ac6d5d01d3 100644
--- a/subprojects/libvhost-user/libvhost-user.c
+++ b/subprojects/libvhost-user/libvhost-user.c
@@ -631,9 +631,9 @@ static bool
 generate_faults(VuDev *dev) {
     unsigned int i;
     for (i = 0; i < dev->nregions; i++) {
+#ifdef UFFDIO_REGISTER
         VuDevRegion *dev_region = &dev->regions[i];
         int ret;
-#ifdef UFFDIO_REGISTER
         struct uffdio_register reg_struct;
 
         /*