diff --git a/src/core/devices/nm-device-generic.c b/src/core/devices/nm-device-generic.c
index f3ac16e8b7..c0dcf0de69 100644
--- a/src/core/devices/nm-device-generic.c
+++ b/src/core/devices/nm-device-generic.c
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
 NM_GOBJECT_PROPERTIES_DEFINE_BASE(PROP_TYPE_DESCRIPTION, );
 
 typedef struct {
-    char *type_description;
+    const char *type_description;
 } NMDeviceGenericPrivate;
 
 struct _NMDeviceGeneric {
@@ -64,11 +64,11 @@ realize_start_notify(NMDevice *device, const NMPlatformLink *plink)
 
     NM_DEVICE_CLASS(nm_device_generic_parent_class)->realize_start_notify(device, plink);
 
-    nm_clear_g_free(&priv->type_description);
     ifindex = nm_device_get_ip_ifindex(NM_DEVICE(self));
-    if (ifindex > 0)
+    if (ifindex > 0) {
         priv->type_description =
-            g_strdup(nm_platform_link_get_type_name(nm_device_get_platform(device), ifindex));
+            nm_platform_link_get_type_name(nm_device_get_platform(device), ifindex);
+    }
 }
 
 static gboolean
@@ -164,17 +164,6 @@ nm_device_generic_new(const NMPlatformLink *plink, gboolean nm_plugin_missing)
                         NULL);
 }
 
-static void
-dispose(GObject *object)
-{
-    NMDeviceGeneric        *self = NM_DEVICE_GENERIC(object);
-    NMDeviceGenericPrivate *priv = NM_DEVICE_GENERIC_GET_PRIVATE(self);
-
-    nm_clear_g_free(&priv->type_description);
-
-    G_OBJECT_CLASS(nm_device_generic_parent_class)->dispose(object);
-}
-
 static const NMDBusInterfaceInfoExtended interface_info_device_generic = {
     .parent = NM_DEFINE_GDBUS_INTERFACE_INFO_INIT(
         NM_DBUS_INTERFACE_DEVICE_GENERIC,
@@ -194,7 +183,6 @@ nm_device_generic_class_init(NMDeviceGenericClass *klass)
     NMDeviceClass     *device_class      = NM_DEVICE_CLASS(klass);
 
     object_class->constructor  = constructor;
-    object_class->dispose      = dispose;
     object_class->get_property = get_property;
 
     dbus_object_class->interface_infos = NM_DBUS_INTERFACE_INFOS(&interface_info_device_generic);