diff --git a/tests/qtest/virtio-9p-test.c b/tests/qtest/virtio-9p-test.c
index 92d12f5e02..ab59431d79 100644
--- a/tests/qtest/virtio-9p-test.c
+++ b/tests/qtest/virtio-9p-test.c
@@ -1019,6 +1019,7 @@ static void fs_readdir_split_512(void *obj, void *data,
 static void fs_create_dir(void *obj, void *data, QGuestAllocator *t_alloc)
 {
     QVirtio9P *v9p = obj;
+    alloc = t_alloc;
     struct stat st;
     char *root_path = virtio_9p_test_path("");
     char *new_dir = virtio_9p_test_path("01");