diff --git a/src/qemu/qemu_hotplug.c b/src/qemu/qemu_hotplug.c
index b978b9708446b75f3a294f1abb4f47043d33bd7b..5baf901e7d59325ad74b65b7c3f3d8c346ffb4ac 100644
--- a/src/qemu/qemu_hotplug.c
+++ b/src/qemu/qemu_hotplug.c
@@ -2751,7 +2751,7 @@ qemuDomainChangeGraphicsPasswords(virQEMUDriverPtr driver,
     int ret = -1;
     virQEMUDriverConfigPtr cfg = virQEMUDriverGetConfig(driver);
 
-    if (!auth->passwd && !cfg->vncPassword) {
+    if (!auth->passwd && !defaultPasswd) {
         ret = 0;
         goto cleanup;
     }