diff --git a/src/node_device/node_device_udev.c b/src/node_device/node_device_udev.c
index 35df13b153..1e1b71742b 100644
--- a/src/node_device/node_device_udev.c
+++ b/src/node_device/node_device_udev.c
@@ -1933,6 +1933,8 @@ nodeStateInitialize(bool privileged,
         return -1;
     }
 
+    driver->privileged = privileged;
+
     if (!(driver->devs = virNodeDeviceObjListNew()) ||
         !(priv = udevEventDataNew()))
         goto cleanup;