diff --git a/src/conf/domain_conf.c b/src/conf/domain_conf.c
index 3e7b77942f..6900cc93fa 100644
--- a/src/conf/domain_conf.c
+++ b/src/conf/domain_conf.c
@@ -3678,8 +3678,7 @@ virDomainObjWaitUntil(virDomainObjPtr vm,
  * @return 0 on success, -1 on failure
  */
 int
-virDomainObjSetDefTransient(virCapsPtr caps,
-                            virDomainXMLOptionPtr xmlopt,
+virDomainObjSetDefTransient(virDomainXMLOptionPtr xmlopt,
                             virDomainObjPtr domain,
                             void *parseOpaque)
 {
@@ -3691,7 +3690,7 @@ virDomainObjSetDefTransient(virCapsPtr caps,
     if (domain->newDef)
         return 0;
 
-    if (!(domain->newDef = virDomainDefCopy(domain->def, caps, xmlopt,
+    if (!(domain->newDef = virDomainDefCopy(domain->def, xmlopt,
                                             parseOpaque, false)))
         goto out;
 
@@ -3729,13 +3728,12 @@ virDomainObjRemoveTransientDef(virDomainObjPtr domain)
  * @return NULL on error, virDOmainDefPtr on success
  */
 virDomainDefPtr
-virDomainObjGetPersistentDef(virCapsPtr caps,
-                             virDomainXMLOptionPtr xmlopt,
+virDomainObjGetPersistentDef(virDomainXMLOptionPtr xmlopt,
                              virDomainObjPtr domain,
                              void *parseOpaque)
 {
     if (virDomainObjIsActive(domain) &&
-        virDomainObjSetDefTransient(caps, xmlopt, domain, parseOpaque) < 0)
+        virDomainObjSetDefTransient(xmlopt, domain, parseOpaque) < 0)
         return NULL;
 
     if (domain->newDef)
@@ -29352,7 +29350,6 @@ virDomainUSBDeviceDefForeach(virDomainDefPtr def,
  * snapshots).  */
 virDomainDefPtr
 virDomainDefCopy(virDomainDefPtr src,
-                 virCapsPtr caps G_GNUC_UNUSED,
                  virDomainXMLOptionPtr xmlopt,
                  void *parseOpaque,
                  bool migratable)
@@ -29374,14 +29371,13 @@ virDomainDefCopy(virDomainDefPtr src,
 
 virDomainDefPtr
 virDomainObjCopyPersistentDef(virDomainObjPtr dom,
-                              virCapsPtr caps,
                               virDomainXMLOptionPtr xmlopt,
                               void *parseOpaque)
 {
     virDomainDefPtr cur;
 
-    cur = virDomainObjGetPersistentDef(caps, xmlopt, dom, parseOpaque);
-    return virDomainDefCopy(cur, caps, xmlopt, parseOpaque, false);
+    cur = virDomainObjGetPersistentDef(xmlopt, dom, parseOpaque);
+    return virDomainDefCopy(cur, xmlopt, parseOpaque, false);
 }
 
 
@@ -29826,7 +29822,6 @@ virDomainNetFindByName(virDomainDefPtr def,
 virDomainDeviceDefPtr
 virDomainDeviceDefCopy(virDomainDeviceDefPtr src,
                        const virDomainDef *def,
-                       virCapsPtr caps G_GNUC_UNUSED,
                        virDomainXMLOptionPtr xmlopt,
                        void *parseOpaque)
 {
diff --git a/src/conf/domain_conf.h b/src/conf/domain_conf.h
index 127c85ef50..2f3a5b0ab7 100644
--- a/src/conf/domain_conf.h
+++ b/src/conf/domain_conf.h
@@ -2898,7 +2898,6 @@ void virDomainShmemDefFree(virDomainShmemDefPtr def);
 void virDomainDeviceDefFree(virDomainDeviceDefPtr def);
 virDomainDeviceDefPtr virDomainDeviceDefCopy(virDomainDeviceDefPtr src,
                                              const virDomainDef *def,
-                                             virCapsPtr caps,
                                              virDomainXMLOptionPtr xmlopt,
                                              void *parseOpaque);
 virDomainDeviceInfoPtr virDomainDeviceGetInfo(virDomainDeviceDefPtr device);
@@ -2939,14 +2938,12 @@ void virDomainObjAssignDef(virDomainObjPtr domain,
                            virDomainDefPtr def,
                            bool live,
                            virDomainDefPtr *oldDef);
-int virDomainObjSetDefTransient(virCapsPtr caps,
-                                virDomainXMLOptionPtr xmlopt,
+int virDomainObjSetDefTransient(virDomainXMLOptionPtr xmlopt,
                                 virDomainObjPtr domain,
                                 void *parseOpaque);
 void virDomainObjRemoveTransientDef(virDomainObjPtr domain);
 virDomainDefPtr
-virDomainObjGetPersistentDef(virCapsPtr caps,
-                             virDomainXMLOptionPtr xmlopt,
+virDomainObjGetPersistentDef(virDomainXMLOptionPtr xmlopt,
                              virDomainObjPtr domain,
                              void *parseOpaque);
 
@@ -2963,12 +2960,10 @@ virDomainDefPtr virDomainObjGetOneDefState(virDomainObjPtr vm,
 virDomainDefPtr virDomainObjGetOneDef(virDomainObjPtr vm, unsigned int flags);
 
 virDomainDefPtr virDomainDefCopy(virDomainDefPtr src,
-                                 virCapsPtr caps,
                                  virDomainXMLOptionPtr xmlopt,
                                  void *parseOpaque,
                                  bool migratable);
 virDomainDefPtr virDomainObjCopyPersistentDef(virDomainObjPtr dom,
-                                              virCapsPtr caps,
                                               virDomainXMLOptionPtr xmlopt,
                                               void *parseOpaque);
 
diff --git a/src/libxl/libxl_domain.c b/src/libxl/libxl_domain.c
index fea20ba477..0ad511c373 100644
--- a/src/libxl/libxl_domain.c
+++ b/src/libxl/libxl_domain.c
@@ -1322,7 +1322,7 @@ libxlDomainStart(libxlDriverPrivatePtr driver,
         VIR_FREE(managed_save_path);
     }
 
-    if (virDomainObjSetDefTransient(cfg->caps, driver->xmlopt, vm, NULL) < 0)
+    if (virDomainObjSetDefTransient(driver->xmlopt, vm, NULL) < 0)
         goto cleanup;
 
     /* Run an early hook to set-up missing devices */
@@ -1550,8 +1550,8 @@ libxlDomainDefCheckABIStability(libxlDriverPrivatePtr driver,
     g_autoptr(libxlDriverConfig) cfg = libxlDriverConfigGet(driver);
     bool ret = false;
 
-    if (!(migratableDefSrc = virDomainDefCopy(src, cfg->caps, driver->xmlopt, NULL, true)) ||
-        !(migratableDefDst = virDomainDefCopy(dst, cfg->caps, driver->xmlopt, NULL, true)))
+    if (!(migratableDefSrc = virDomainDefCopy(src, driver->xmlopt, NULL, true)) ||
+        !(migratableDefDst = virDomainDefCopy(dst, driver->xmlopt, NULL, true)))
         goto cleanup;
 
     ret = virDomainDefCheckABIStability(migratableDefSrc,
diff --git a/src/libxl/libxl_driver.c b/src/libxl/libxl_driver.c
index abf359ad1b..11a08ed68a 100644
--- a/src/libxl/libxl_driver.c
+++ b/src/libxl/libxl_driver.c
@@ -1601,7 +1601,7 @@ libxlDomainGetMaxMemory(virDomainPtr dom)
  * domain configuration if needed. Return -1 on error.
  */
 static int
-virDomainLiveConfigHelperMethod(virCapsPtr caps,
+virDomainLiveConfigHelperMethod(virCapsPtr caps G_GNUC_UNUSED,
                                 virDomainXMLOptionPtr xmlopt,
                                 virDomainObjPtr dom,
                                 unsigned int *flags,
@@ -1611,7 +1611,7 @@ virDomainLiveConfigHelperMethod(virCapsPtr caps,
         return -1;
 
     if (*flags & VIR_DOMAIN_AFFECT_CONFIG) {
-        if (!(*persistentDef = virDomainObjGetPersistentDef(caps, xmlopt, dom, NULL))) {
+        if (!(*persistentDef = virDomainObjGetPersistentDef(xmlopt, dom, NULL))) {
             virReportError(VIR_ERR_INTERNAL_ERROR, "%s",
                            _("Get persistent config failed"));
             return -1;
@@ -2298,7 +2298,7 @@ libxlDomainSetVcpusFlags(virDomainPtr dom, unsigned int nvcpus,
         goto endjob;
     }
 
-    if (!(def = virDomainObjGetPersistentDef(cfg->caps, driver->xmlopt, vm, NULL)))
+    if (!(def = virDomainObjGetPersistentDef(driver->xmlopt, vm, NULL)))
         goto endjob;
 
     maplen = VIR_CPU_MAPLEN(nvcpus);
@@ -4121,8 +4121,7 @@ libxlDomainAttachDeviceFlags(virDomainPtr dom, const char *xml,
             goto endjob;
 
         /* Make a copy for updated domain. */
-        if (!(vmdef = virDomainObjCopyPersistentDef(vm, cfg->caps,
-                                                    driver->xmlopt, NULL)))
+        if (!(vmdef = virDomainObjCopyPersistentDef(vm, driver->xmlopt, NULL)))
             goto endjob;
 
         if (libxlDomainAttachDeviceConfig(vmdef, dev) < 0)
@@ -4211,8 +4210,7 @@ libxlDomainDetachDeviceFlags(virDomainPtr dom, const char *xml,
             goto endjob;
 
         /* Make a copy for updated domain. */
-        if (!(vmdef = virDomainObjCopyPersistentDef(vm, cfg->caps,
-                                                    driver->xmlopt, NULL)))
+        if (!(vmdef = virDomainObjCopyPersistentDef(vm, driver->xmlopt, NULL)))
             goto endjob;
 
         if (libxlDomainDetachDeviceConfig(vmdef, dev) < 0)
@@ -4298,8 +4296,7 @@ libxlDomainUpdateDeviceFlags(virDomainPtr dom, const char *xml,
             goto cleanup;
 
         /* Make a copy for updated domain. */
-        if (!(vmdef = virDomainObjCopyPersistentDef(vm, cfg->caps,
-                                                    driver->xmlopt, NULL)))
+        if (!(vmdef = virDomainObjCopyPersistentDef(vm, driver->xmlopt, NULL)))
             goto cleanup;
 
         if ((ret = libxlDomainUpdateDeviceConfig(vmdef, dev)) < 0)
diff --git a/src/libxl/libxl_migration.c b/src/libxl/libxl_migration.c
index d744816510..0d10da1811 100644
--- a/src/libxl/libxl_migration.c
+++ b/src/libxl/libxl_migration.c
@@ -1321,8 +1321,7 @@ libxlDomainMigrationDstFinish(virConnectPtr dconn,
         virDomainDefPtr vmdef;
 
         vm->persistent = 1;
-        if (!(vmdef = virDomainObjGetPersistentDef(cfg->caps,
-                                                   driver->xmlopt, vm, NULL)))
+        if (!(vmdef = virDomainObjGetPersistentDef(driver->xmlopt, vm, NULL)))
             goto cleanup;
 
         if (virDomainDefSave(vmdef, driver->xmlopt, cfg->caps, cfg->configDir) < 0)
diff --git a/src/lxc/lxc_driver.c b/src/lxc/lxc_driver.c
index 1ef15bfcf8..55945bafcd 100644
--- a/src/lxc/lxc_driver.c
+++ b/src/lxc/lxc_driver.c
@@ -1907,7 +1907,7 @@ lxcDomainSetSchedulerParametersFlags(virDomainPtr dom,
 
     if (persistentDef) {
         /* Make a copy for updated domain. */
-        persistentDefCopy = virDomainObjCopyPersistentDef(vm, caps, driver->xmlopt, NULL);
+        persistentDefCopy = virDomainObjCopyPersistentDef(vm, driver->xmlopt, NULL);
         if (!persistentDefCopy)
             goto endjob;
     }
@@ -4673,7 +4673,6 @@ static int lxcDomainAttachDeviceFlags(virDomainPtr dom,
                                       unsigned int flags)
 {
     virLXCDriverPtr driver = dom->conn->privateData;
-    virCapsPtr caps = NULL;
     virDomainObjPtr vm = NULL;
     virDomainDefPtr vmdef = NULL;
     virDomainDeviceDefPtr dev = NULL, dev_copy = NULL;
@@ -4692,9 +4691,6 @@ static int lxcDomainAttachDeviceFlags(virDomainPtr dom,
     if (virLXCDomainObjBeginJob(driver, vm, LXC_JOB_MODIFY) < 0)
         goto cleanup;
 
-    if (!(caps = virLXCDriverGetCapabilities(driver, false)))
-        goto endjob;
-
     if (virDomainObjUpdateModificationImpact(vm, &flags) < 0)
         goto endjob;
 
@@ -4711,14 +4707,14 @@ static int lxcDomainAttachDeviceFlags(virDomainPtr dom,
          * to CONFIG takes one instance.
          */
         dev_copy = virDomainDeviceDefCopy(dev, vm->def,
-                                          caps, driver->xmlopt, NULL);
+                                          driver->xmlopt, NULL);
         if (!dev_copy)
             goto endjob;
     }
 
     if (flags & VIR_DOMAIN_AFFECT_CONFIG) {
         /* Make a copy for updated domain. */
-        vmdef = virDomainObjCopyPersistentDef(vm, caps, driver->xmlopt, NULL);
+        vmdef = virDomainObjCopyPersistentDef(vm, driver->xmlopt, NULL);
         if (!vmdef)
             goto endjob;
 
@@ -4768,7 +4764,6 @@ static int lxcDomainAttachDeviceFlags(virDomainPtr dom,
         virDomainDeviceDefFree(dev_copy);
     virDomainDeviceDefFree(dev);
     virDomainObjEndAPI(&vm);
-    virObjectUnref(caps);
     virObjectUnref(cfg);
     return ret;
 }
@@ -4787,7 +4782,6 @@ static int lxcDomainUpdateDeviceFlags(virDomainPtr dom,
                                       unsigned int flags)
 {
     virLXCDriverPtr driver = dom->conn->privateData;
-    virCapsPtr caps = NULL;
     virDomainObjPtr vm = NULL;
     virDomainDefPtr vmdef = NULL;
     virDomainDeviceDefPtr dev = NULL;
@@ -4815,15 +4809,12 @@ static int lxcDomainUpdateDeviceFlags(virDomainPtr dom,
         goto endjob;
     }
 
-    if (!(caps = virLXCDriverGetCapabilities(driver, false)))
-        goto endjob;
-
     if (!(dev = virDomainDeviceDefParse(xml, vm->def, driver->xmlopt, NULL,
                                         VIR_DOMAIN_DEF_PARSE_INACTIVE)))
         goto endjob;
 
     /* Make a copy for updated domain. */
-    if (!(vmdef = virDomainObjCopyPersistentDef(vm, caps, driver->xmlopt, NULL)))
+    if (!(vmdef = virDomainObjCopyPersistentDef(vm, driver->xmlopt, NULL)))
         goto endjob;
 
     /* virDomainDefCompatibleDevice call is delayed until we know the
@@ -4845,7 +4836,6 @@ static int lxcDomainUpdateDeviceFlags(virDomainPtr dom,
     virDomainDefFree(vmdef);
     virDomainDeviceDefFree(dev);
     virDomainObjEndAPI(&vm);
-    virObjectUnref(caps);
     virObjectUnref(cfg);
     return ret;
 }
@@ -4895,14 +4885,14 @@ static int lxcDomainDetachDeviceFlags(virDomainPtr dom,
          * to CONFIG takes one instance.
          */
         dev_copy = virDomainDeviceDefCopy(dev, vm->def,
-                                          caps, driver->xmlopt, NULL);
+                                          driver->xmlopt, NULL);
         if (!dev_copy)
             goto endjob;
     }
 
     if (flags & VIR_DOMAIN_AFFECT_CONFIG) {
         /* Make a copy for updated domain. */
-        vmdef = virDomainObjCopyPersistentDef(vm, caps, driver->xmlopt, NULL);
+        vmdef = virDomainObjCopyPersistentDef(vm, driver->xmlopt, NULL);
         if (!vmdef)
             goto endjob;
 
diff --git a/src/lxc/lxc_process.c b/src/lxc/lxc_process.c
index cd8ee4975b..e648d490c8 100644
--- a/src/lxc/lxc_process.c
+++ b/src/lxc/lxc_process.c
@@ -1266,7 +1266,7 @@ int virLXCProcessStart(virConnectPtr conn,
      * report implicit runtime defaults in the XML, like vnc listen/socket
      */
     VIR_DEBUG("Setting current domain def as transient");
-    if (virDomainObjSetDefTransient(caps, driver->xmlopt, vm, NULL) < 0)
+    if (virDomainObjSetDefTransient(driver->xmlopt, vm, NULL) < 0)
         goto cleanup;
 
     /* Run an early hook to set-up missing devices */
diff --git a/src/qemu/qemu_domain.c b/src/qemu/qemu_domain.c
index 5d16d7aae8..abca601914 100644
--- a/src/qemu/qemu_domain.c
+++ b/src/qemu/qemu_domain.c
@@ -9034,17 +9034,13 @@ qemuDomainDefFormatBufInternal(virQEMUDriverPtr driver,
 {
     int ret = -1;
     virDomainDefPtr copy = NULL;
-    virCapsPtr caps = NULL;
 
     virCheckFlags(VIR_DOMAIN_XML_COMMON_FLAGS | VIR_DOMAIN_XML_UPDATE_CPU, -1);
 
-    if (!(caps = virQEMUDriverGetCapabilities(driver, false)))
-        goto cleanup;
-
     if (!(flags & (VIR_DOMAIN_XML_UPDATE_CPU | VIR_DOMAIN_XML_MIGRATABLE)))
         goto format;
 
-    if (!(copy = virDomainDefCopy(def, caps, driver->xmlopt, qemuCaps,
+    if (!(copy = virDomainDefCopy(def, driver->xmlopt, qemuCaps,
                                   flags & VIR_DOMAIN_XML_MIGRATABLE)))
         goto cleanup;
 
@@ -9218,7 +9214,6 @@ qemuDomainDefFormatBufInternal(virQEMUDriverPtr driver,
 
  cleanup:
     virDomainDefFree(copy);
-    virObjectUnref(caps);
     return ret;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/qemu/qemu_driver.c b/src/qemu/qemu_driver.c
index ccdadfc38d..11cf535cae 100644
--- a/src/qemu/qemu_driver.c
+++ b/src/qemu/qemu_driver.c
@@ -8622,7 +8622,7 @@ qemuDomainAttachDeviceLiveAndConfig(virDomainObjPtr vm,
      * rely on the correct vm->def or vm->newDef being passed, so call the
      * device parse based on which definition is in use */
     if (flags & VIR_DOMAIN_AFFECT_CONFIG) {
-        vmdef = virDomainObjCopyPersistentDef(vm, caps, driver->xmlopt,
+        vmdef = virDomainObjCopyPersistentDef(vm, driver->xmlopt,
                                               priv->qemuCaps);
         if (!vmdef)
             goto cleanup;
@@ -8791,7 +8791,7 @@ static int qemuDomainUpdateDeviceFlags(virDomainPtr dom,
          * create a deep copy of device as adding
          * to CONFIG takes one instance.
          */
-        dev_copy = virDomainDeviceDefCopy(dev, vm->def, caps,
+        dev_copy = virDomainDeviceDefCopy(dev, vm->def,
                                           driver->xmlopt, priv->qemuCaps);
         if (!dev_copy)
             goto endjob;
@@ -8799,7 +8799,7 @@ static int qemuDomainUpdateDeviceFlags(virDomainPtr dom,
 
     if (flags & VIR_DOMAIN_AFFECT_CONFIG) {
         /* Make a copy for updated domain. */
-        vmdef = virDomainObjCopyPersistentDef(vm, caps, driver->xmlopt,
+        vmdef = virDomainObjCopyPersistentDef(vm, driver->xmlopt,
                                               priv->qemuCaps);
         if (!vmdef)
             goto endjob;
@@ -8888,7 +8888,7 @@ qemuDomainDetachDeviceLiveAndConfig(virQEMUDriverPtr driver,
          * create a deep copy of device as adding
          * to CONFIG takes one instance.
          */
-        dev_copy = virDomainDeviceDefCopy(dev, vm->def, caps,
+        dev_copy = virDomainDeviceDefCopy(dev, vm->def,
                                           driver->xmlopt, priv->qemuCaps);
         if (!dev_copy)
             goto cleanup;
@@ -8896,7 +8896,7 @@ qemuDomainDetachDeviceLiveAndConfig(virQEMUDriverPtr driver,
 
     if (flags & VIR_DOMAIN_AFFECT_CONFIG) {
         /* Make a copy for updated domain. */
-        vmdef = virDomainObjCopyPersistentDef(vm, caps, driver->xmlopt, priv->qemuCaps);
+        vmdef = virDomainObjCopyPersistentDef(vm, driver->xmlopt, priv->qemuCaps);
         if (!vmdef)
             goto cleanup;
 
@@ -8977,7 +8977,7 @@ qemuDomainDetachDeviceAliasLiveAndConfig(virQEMUDriverPtr driver,
     if (persistentDef) {
         virDomainDeviceDef dev;
 
-        if (!(vmdef = virDomainObjCopyPersistentDef(vm, caps, driver->xmlopt,
+        if (!(vmdef = virDomainObjCopyPersistentDef(vm, driver->xmlopt,
                                                     priv->qemuCaps)))
             goto cleanup;
 
@@ -10580,7 +10580,7 @@ qemuDomainSetSchedulerParametersFlags(virDomainPtr dom,
 
     if (persistentDef) {
         /* Make a copy for updated domain. */
-        if (!(persistentDefCopy = virDomainObjCopyPersistentDef(vm, caps,
+        if (!(persistentDefCopy = virDomainObjCopyPersistentDef(vm,
                                                                 driver->xmlopt,
                                                                 priv->qemuCaps)))
             goto endjob;
@@ -15955,7 +15955,7 @@ qemuDomainSnapshotCreateXML(virDomainPtr domain,
             goto endjob;
 
         if (vm->newDef) {
-            def->parent.inactiveDom = virDomainDefCopy(vm->newDef, caps,
+            def->parent.inactiveDom = virDomainDefCopy(vm->newDef,
                                                        driver->xmlopt, priv->qemuCaps, true);
             if (!def->parent.inactiveDom)
                 goto endjob;
@@ -16483,7 +16483,6 @@ qemuDomainRevertToSnapshot(virDomainSnapshotPtr snapshot,
     virDomainDefPtr config = NULL;
     virDomainDefPtr inactiveConfig = NULL;
     g_autoptr(virQEMUDriverConfig) cfg = NULL;
-    g_autoptr(virCaps) caps = NULL;
     bool was_stopped = false;
     qemuDomainSaveCookiePtr cookie;
     virCPUDefPtr origCPU = NULL;
@@ -16520,9 +16519,6 @@ qemuDomainRevertToSnapshot(virDomainSnapshotPtr snapshot,
     if (virDomainRevertToSnapshotEnsureACL(snapshot->domain->conn, vm->def) < 0)
         goto cleanup;
 
-    if (!(caps = virQEMUDriverGetCapabilities(driver, false)))
-        goto cleanup;
-
     if (qemuDomainHasBlockjob(vm, false)) {
         virReportError(VIR_ERR_OPERATION_INVALID, "%s",
                        _("domain has active block job"));
@@ -16574,14 +16570,14 @@ qemuDomainRevertToSnapshot(virDomainSnapshotPtr snapshot,
     }
 
     if (snap->def->dom) {
-        config = virDomainDefCopy(snap->def->dom, caps,
+        config = virDomainDefCopy(snap->def->dom,
                                   driver->xmlopt, priv->qemuCaps, true);
         if (!config)
             goto endjob;
     }
 
     if (snap->def->inactiveDom) {
-        inactiveConfig = virDomainDefCopy(snap->def->inactiveDom, caps,
+        inactiveConfig = virDomainDefCopy(snap->def->inactiveDom,
                                           driver->xmlopt, priv->qemuCaps, true);
         if (!inactiveConfig)
             goto endjob;
@@ -16594,7 +16590,7 @@ qemuDomainRevertToSnapshot(virDomainSnapshotPtr snapshot,
          */
         if (snapdef->state == VIR_DOMAIN_SNAPSHOT_RUNNING ||
             snapdef->state == VIR_DOMAIN_SNAPSHOT_PAUSED) {
-            inactiveConfig = virDomainDefCopy(snap->def->dom, caps,
+            inactiveConfig = virDomainDefCopy(snap->def->dom,
                                               driver->xmlopt, priv->qemuCaps, true);
             if (!inactiveConfig)
                 goto endjob;
diff --git a/src/qemu/qemu_migration.c b/src/qemu/qemu_migration.c
index 6585dc5ab6..215906b300 100644
--- a/src/qemu/qemu_migration.c
+++ b/src/qemu/qemu_migration.c
@@ -4852,7 +4852,7 @@ qemuMigrationDstPersist(virQEMUDriverPtr driver,
     oldDef = vm->newDef;
     vm->newDef = qemuMigrationCookieGetPersistent(mig);
 
-    if (!(vmdef = virDomainObjGetPersistentDef(caps, driver->xmlopt, vm,
+    if (!(vmdef = virDomainObjGetPersistentDef(driver->xmlopt, vm,
                                                priv->qemuCaps)))
         goto error;
 
diff --git a/src/qemu/qemu_process.c b/src/qemu/qemu_process.c
index aca7b991c5..c5473f6840 100644
--- a/src/qemu/qemu_process.c
+++ b/src/qemu/qemu_process.c
@@ -5600,7 +5600,7 @@ qemuProcessInit(virQEMUDriverPtr driver,
      * report implicit runtime defaults in the XML, like vnc listen/socket
      */
     VIR_DEBUG("Setting current domain def as transient");
-    if (virDomainObjSetDefTransient(caps, driver->xmlopt, vm, priv->qemuCaps) < 0)
+    if (virDomainObjSetDefTransient(driver->xmlopt, vm, priv->qemuCaps) < 0)
         goto cleanup;
 
     if (flags & VIR_QEMU_PROCESS_START_PRETEND) {
diff --git a/src/test/test_driver.c b/src/test/test_driver.c
index c5c533d369..02f6175e2f 100644
--- a/src/test/test_driver.c
+++ b/src/test/test_driver.c
@@ -696,8 +696,7 @@ testDomainStartState(testDriverPtr privconn,
     virDomainObjSetState(dom, VIR_DOMAIN_RUNNING, reason);
     dom->def->id = virAtomicIntAdd(&privconn->nextDomID, 1);
 
-    if (virDomainObjSetDefTransient(privconn->caps,
-                                    privconn->xmlopt,
+    if (virDomainObjSetDefTransient(privconn->xmlopt,
                                     dom, NULL) < 0) {
         goto cleanup;
     }
@@ -8571,7 +8570,6 @@ testDomainSnapshotCreateXML(virDomainPtr domain,
             goto cleanup;
     } else {
         if (!(def->parent.dom = virDomainDefCopy(vm->def,
-                                                 privconn->caps,
                                                  privconn->xmlopt,
                                                  NULL,
                                                  true)))
@@ -8794,7 +8792,7 @@ testDomainRevertToSnapshot(virDomainSnapshotPtr snapshot,
 
     virDomainSnapshotSetCurrent(vm->snapshots, NULL);
 
-    config = virDomainDefCopy(snap->def->dom, privconn->caps,
+    config = virDomainDefCopy(snap->def->dom,
                               privconn->xmlopt, NULL, true);
     if (!config)
         goto cleanup;
@@ -9027,7 +9025,6 @@ testDomainCheckpointCreateXML(virDomainPtr domain,
             goto cleanup;
     } else {
         if (!(def->parent.dom = virDomainDefCopy(vm->def,
-                                                 privconn->caps,
                                                  privconn->xmlopt,
                                                  NULL,
                                                  true)))
diff --git a/tests/qemuhotplugtest.c b/tests/qemuhotplugtest.c
index e80545056d..8e7273b673 100644
--- a/tests/qemuhotplugtest.c
+++ b/tests/qemuhotplugtest.c
@@ -427,7 +427,7 @@ testQemuHotplugCpuPrepare(const char *test,
 
     /* create vm->newDef */
     data->vm->persistent = true;
-    if (virDomainObjSetDefTransient(caps, driver.xmlopt, data->vm, NULL) < 0)
+    if (virDomainObjSetDefTransient(driver.xmlopt, data->vm, NULL) < 0)
         goto error;
 
     priv = data->vm->privateData;