diff --git a/src/xenconfig/xen_xl.c b/src/xenconfig/xen_xl.c
index 767ac014d9..19a2698848 100644
--- a/src/xenconfig/xen_xl.c
+++ b/src/xenconfig/xen_xl.c
@@ -683,6 +683,11 @@ xenFormatXLSpice(virConfPtr conf, virDomainDefPtr def)
             if (xenConfigSetInt(conf, "spice", 1) < 0)
                 return -1;
 
+            listenAddr = virDomainGraphicsListenGetAddress(graphics, 0);
+            if (listenAddr &&
+                xenConfigSetString(conf, "spicehost", listenAddr) < 0)
+                return -1;
+
             if (xenConfigSetInt(conf, "spiceport",
                                 graphics->data.spice.port) < 0)
                 return -1;
@@ -701,11 +706,6 @@ xenFormatXLSpice(virConfPtr conf, virDomainDefPtr def)
                     return -1;
             }
 
-            listenAddr = virDomainGraphicsListenGetAddress(graphics, 0);
-            if (listenAddr &&
-                xenConfigSetString(conf, "spicehost", listenAddr) < 0)
-                return -1;
-
             if (xenConfigSetInt(conf, "spiceagent_mouse",
                                 graphics->data.spice.mousemode) < 0)
                 return -1;
diff --git a/tests/xlconfigdata/test-spice.cfg b/tests/xlconfigdata/test-spice.cfg
index 21f0e55afd..b2b9742fed 100644
--- a/tests/xlconfigdata/test-spice.cfg
+++ b/tests/xlconfigdata/test-spice.cfg
@@ -22,9 +22,9 @@ disk = [ "/dev/HostVG/XenGuest2,raw,hda,w,backendtype=phy", "/root/boot.iso,raw,
 sdl = 0
 vnc = 0
 spice = 1
+spicehost = "127.0.0.1"
 spiceport = 590
 spicetls_port = 500
 spicedisable_ticketing = 1
 spicepasswd = "thebeast"
-spicehost = "127.0.0.1"
 spiceagent_mouse = 0