diff --git a/util/vhost-user-server.c b/util/vhost-user-server.c
index b4b6bf30a2..5ccc6d24a0 100644
--- a/util/vhost-user-server.c
+++ b/util/vhost-user-server.c
@@ -278,7 +278,7 @@ set_watch(VuDev *vu_dev, int fd, int vu_evt,
     VuFdWatch *vu_fd_watch = find_vu_fd_watch(server, fd);
 
     if (!vu_fd_watch) {
-        VuFdWatch *vu_fd_watch = g_new0(VuFdWatch, 1);
+        vu_fd_watch = g_new0(VuFdWatch, 1);
 
         QTAILQ_INSERT_TAIL(&server->vu_fd_watches, vu_fd_watch, next);