diff --git a/hw/virtio/virtio-balloon.c b/hw/virtio/virtio-balloon.c
index 8c6a177365..64fdd0e332 100644
--- a/hw/virtio/virtio-balloon.c
+++ b/hw/virtio/virtio-balloon.c
@@ -818,7 +818,7 @@ static void virtio_balloon_device_unrealize(DeviceState *dev, Error **errp)
     VirtIODevice *vdev = VIRTIO_DEVICE(dev);
     VirtIOBalloon *s = VIRTIO_BALLOON(dev);
 
-    if (virtio_balloon_free_page_support(s)) {
+    if (s->free_page_bh) {
         qemu_bh_delete(s->free_page_bh);
         virtio_balloon_free_page_stop(s);
         precopy_remove_notifier(&s->free_page_report_notify);