diff --git a/src/remote/remote_driver.c b/src/remote/remote_driver.c
index 58cd0abe8c..a4c60be3d7 100644
--- a/src/remote/remote_driver.c
+++ b/src/remote/remote_driver.c
@@ -712,7 +712,7 @@ remoteConnectFormatURI(virURI *uri,
         virURIParamsSetIgnore(uri, false, names);
     }
 
-    query = tmpuri.query = virURIFormatParams(uri);
+    tmpuri.query = query = virURIFormatParams(uri);
 
     ret = virURIFormat(&tmpuri);