diff --git a/src/conf/network_conf.c b/src/conf/network_conf.c
index a55339d3a596eeac13d4bfe5dcc8a8742c77df47..d16b705928525531c96402ecf945ae6484c990d7 100644
--- a/src/conf/network_conf.c
+++ b/src/conf/network_conf.c
@@ -359,7 +359,7 @@ virNetworkObjSetDefTransient(virNetworkObjPtr network, bool live)
 void
 virNetworkObjUnsetDefTransient(virNetworkObjPtr network)
 {
-    if (network->def) {
+    if (network->newDef) {
         virNetworkDefFree(network->def);
         network->def = network->newDef;
         network->newDef = NULL;