diff --git a/src/conf/domain_conf.c b/src/conf/domain_conf.c
index 70b19311b4..b98b1ca428 100644
--- a/src/conf/domain_conf.c
+++ b/src/conf/domain_conf.c
@@ -5679,11 +5679,11 @@ virDomainDeviceValidateAliasForHotplug(virDomainObjPtr vm,
         return -1;
 
     if (persDef &&
-        virDomainDeviceValidateAliasImpl(vm->def, dev) < 0)
+        virDomainDeviceValidateAliasImpl(persDef, dev) < 0)
         return -1;
 
     if (liveDef &&
-        virDomainDeviceValidateAliasImpl(vm->newDef, dev) < 0)
+        virDomainDeviceValidateAliasImpl(liveDef, dev) < 0)
         return -1;
 
     return 0;