diff --git a/src/lxc/lxc_driver.c b/src/lxc/lxc_driver.c
index f136df23b0..338b8eb84f 100644
--- a/src/lxc/lxc_driver.c
+++ b/src/lxc/lxc_driver.c
@@ -1469,6 +1469,9 @@ static int lxcStartup(bool privileged,
     if (lxcSecurityInit(lxc_driver) < 0)
         goto cleanup;
 
+    if ((lxc_driver->activeUsbHostdevs = virUSBDeviceListNew()) == NULL)
+        goto cleanup;
+
     if ((lxc_driver->caps = lxcCapsInit(lxc_driver)) == NULL)
         goto cleanup;
 
@@ -1559,6 +1562,7 @@ static int lxcShutdown(void)
 
     virLXCProcessAutoDestroyShutdown(lxc_driver);
 
+    virObjectUnref(lxc_driver->activeUsbHostdevs);
     virObjectUnref(lxc_driver->caps);
     virObjectUnref(lxc_driver->securityManager);
     VIR_FREE(lxc_driver->configDir);