diff --git a/projects/clr/rocclr/device/pal/palvirtual.cpp b/projects/clr/rocclr/device/pal/palvirtual.cpp
index 02a5339d39..b2078cca29 100644
--- a/projects/clr/rocclr/device/pal/palvirtual.cpp
+++ b/projects/clr/rocclr/device/pal/palvirtual.cpp
@@ -878,6 +878,9 @@ VirtualGPU::VirtualGPU(Device& device)
 
   queues_[MainEngine] = nullptr;
   queues_[SdmaEngine] = nullptr;
+
+  // The hostcall buffer for this vqueue is initialized on demand.
+  hostcallBuffer_ = nullptr;
 }
 
 bool VirtualGPU::create(bool profiling, uint deviceQueueSize, uint rtCUs,
@@ -1035,9 +1038,6 @@ bool VirtualGPU::create(bool profiling, uint deviceQueueSize, uint rtCUs,
                                               &dbg_vmid);
   }
 
-  // The hostcall buffer for this vqueue is initialized on demand.
-  hostcallBuffer_ = nullptr;
-
   return true;
 }