diff --git a/drivers/virtio/virtio_mem.c b/drivers/virtio/virtio_mem.c
index bef8ad6bf466..4624a2c3d055 100644
--- a/drivers/virtio/virtio_mem.c
+++ b/drivers/virtio/virtio_mem.c
@@ -577,7 +577,7 @@ static int virtio_mem_sbm_sb_states_prepare_next_mb(struct virtio_mem *vm)
 		return -ENOMEM;
 
 	mutex_lock(&vm->hotplug_mutex);
-	if (new_bitmap)
+	if (vm->sbm.sb_states)
 		memcpy(new_bitmap, vm->sbm.sb_states, old_pages * PAGE_SIZE);
 
 	old_bitmap = vm->sbm.sb_states;