diff --git a/net.c b/net.c
index 7ae1e6d60c..f1752d68f4 100644
--- a/net.c
+++ b/net.c
@@ -2085,7 +2085,7 @@ void net_host_device_add(Monitor *mon, const char *device, const char *opts)
         monitor_printf(mon, "invalid host network device %s\n", device);
         return;
     }
-    if (net_client_init(device, opts ? : "") < 0) {
+    if (net_client_init(device, opts ? opts : "") < 0) {
         monitor_printf(mon, "adding host network device %s failed\n", device);
     }
 }