diff --git a/src/nm-manager.c b/src/nm-manager.c
index 64cdb9aed2..869ae94ae6 100644
--- a/src/nm-manager.c
+++ b/src/nm-manager.c
@@ -2032,7 +2032,6 @@ system_create_virtual_device (NMManager *self, NMConnection *connection)
 			         "couldn't create the device: %s",
 			         error->message);
 			g_error_free (error);
-			remove_device (self, device, FALSE);
 			return NULL;
 		}