diff --git a/hw/arm/sbsa-ref.c b/hw/arm/sbsa-ref.c
index 13dde50cba..f5709d6c14 100644
--- a/hw/arm/sbsa-ref.c
+++ b/hw/arm/sbsa-ref.c
@@ -664,9 +664,8 @@ static void create_pcie(SBSAMachineState *sms)
     }
 
     pci = PCI_HOST_BRIDGE(dev);
-    if (pci->bus) {
-        pci_init_nic_devices(pci->bus, mc->default_nic);
-    }
+
+    pci_init_nic_devices(pci->bus, mc->default_nic);
 
     pci_create_simple(pci->bus, -1, "bochs-display");