diff --git a/net/tap.c b/net/tap.c
index b6896a7b7c..6248e8530e 100644
--- a/net/tap.c
+++ b/net/tap.c
@@ -788,8 +788,8 @@ int net_init_tap(const Netdev *netdev, const char *name,
             return -1;
         }
     } else if (tap->has_fds) {
-        char **fds = g_new0(char *, MAX_TAP_QUEUES);
-        char **vhost_fds = g_new0(char *, MAX_TAP_QUEUES);
+        char **fds;
+        char **vhost_fds;
         int nfds, nvhosts;
 
         if (tap->has_ifname || tap->has_script || tap->has_downscript ||
@@ -801,6 +801,9 @@ int net_init_tap(const Netdev *netdev, const char *name,
             return -1;
         }
 
+        fds = g_new0(char *, MAX_TAP_QUEUES);
+        vhost_fds = g_new0(char *, MAX_TAP_QUEUES);
+
         nfds = get_fds(tap->fds, fds, MAX_TAP_QUEUES);
         if (tap->has_vhostfds) {
             nvhosts = get_fds(tap->vhostfds, vhost_fds, MAX_TAP_QUEUES);