diff --git a/hw/xen/xen-bus.c b/hw/xen/xen-bus.c
index a04478ad4f..025df5e59f 100644
--- a/hw/xen/xen-bus.c
+++ b/hw/xen/xen-bus.c
@@ -560,7 +560,7 @@ static void xen_device_backend_changed(void *opaque)
      * backend state to Closed.
      */
     if (xendev->backend_state == XenbusStateClosing &&
-        !xen_device_state_is_active(state)) {
+        !xen_device_state_is_active(xendev->frontend_state)) {
         xen_device_backend_set_state(xendev, XenbusStateClosed);
     }