diff --git a/src/interface/interface_backend_netcf.c b/src/interface/interface_backend_netcf.c
index 4f46717cf3..65cb7eae62 100644
--- a/src/interface/interface_backend_netcf.c
+++ b/src/interface/interface_backend_netcf.c
@@ -105,8 +105,7 @@ netcfStateInitialize(bool privileged,
     } else {
         g_autofree char *rundir = NULL;
 
-        if (!(rundir = virGetUserRuntimeDirectory()))
-            goto error;
+        rundir = virGetUserRuntimeDirectory();
         driver->stateDir = g_strdup_printf("%s/interface/run", rundir);
     }
 
diff --git a/src/interface/interface_backend_udev.c b/src/interface/interface_backend_udev.c
index 26b1045f8a..7cc098eb33 100644
--- a/src/interface/interface_backend_udev.c
+++ b/src/interface/interface_backend_udev.c
@@ -1160,8 +1160,7 @@ udevStateInitialize(bool privileged,
     } else {
         g_autofree char *rundir = NULL;
 
-        if (!(rundir = virGetUserRuntimeDirectory()))
-            goto cleanup;
+        rundir = virGetUserRuntimeDirectory();
         driver->stateDir = g_strdup_printf("%s/interface/run", rundir);
     }