diff --git a/src/hyperv/hyperv_driver.c b/src/hyperv/hyperv_driver.c
index 1958bbe769..72261dfa32 100644
--- a/src/hyperv/hyperv_driver.c
+++ b/src/hyperv/hyperv_driver.c
@@ -774,7 +774,7 @@ hypervDomainGetXMLDesc(virDomainPtr domain, unsigned int flags)
 
     /* Flags checked by virDomainDefFormat */
 
-    if (VIR_ALLOC(def) < 0)
+    if (!(def = virDomainDefNew()))
         goto cleanup;
 
     virUUIDFormat(domain->uuid, uuid_string);