diff --git a/src/util/virnetdevmacvlan.c b/src/util/virnetdevmacvlan.c
index d36b3260764a993ce480c27eb556eb93ab75432f..f38a98c815d87aa3d91ec0683b0a17bcc865bc3a 100644
--- a/src/util/virnetdevmacvlan.c
+++ b/src/util/virnetdevmacvlan.c
@@ -913,7 +913,7 @@ create_name:
         goto disassociate_exit;
     }
 
-    if (virNetlinkEventServiceIsRunning()) {
+    if (virtPortProfile && virNetlinkEventServiceIsRunning()) {
         if (VIR_ALLOC(calld) < 0)
             goto memory_error;
         if ((calld->cr_ifname = strdup(cr_ifname)) == NULL)