diff --git a/hw/ppc/spapr_cpu_core.c b/hw/ppc/spapr_cpu_core.c
index 0c0fb3f1b0..40b7c52f7f 100644
--- a/hw/ppc/spapr_cpu_core.c
+++ b/hw/ppc/spapr_cpu_core.c
@@ -245,8 +245,7 @@ static void spapr_cpu_core_unrealize(DeviceState *dev)
              * spapr_cpu_core_realize(), make sure we only unrealize
              * vCPUs that have already been realized.
              */
-            if (object_property_get_bool(OBJECT(sc->threads[i]), "realized",
-                                         &error_abort)) {
+            if (qdev_is_realized(DEVICE(sc->threads[i]))) {
                 spapr_unrealize_vcpu(sc->threads[i], sc);
             }
             spapr_delete_vcpu(sc->threads[i]);