diff --git a/hw/arm/spitz.c b/hw/arm/spitz.c
index e001088103..cbfa6934cf 100644
--- a/hw/arm/spitz.c
+++ b/hw/arm/spitz.c
@@ -524,11 +524,16 @@ static void spitz_keyboard_init(Object *obj)
 
     spitz_keyboard_pre_map(s);
 
-    s->kbdtimer = timer_new_ns(QEMU_CLOCK_VIRTUAL, spitz_keyboard_tick, s);
     qdev_init_gpio_in(dev, spitz_keyboard_strobe, SPITZ_KEY_STROBE_NUM);
     qdev_init_gpio_out(dev, s->sense, SPITZ_KEY_SENSE_NUM);
 }
 
+static void spitz_keyboard_realize(DeviceState *dev, Error **errp)
+{
+    SpitzKeyboardState *s = SPITZ_KEYBOARD(dev);
+    s->kbdtimer = timer_new_ns(QEMU_CLOCK_VIRTUAL, spitz_keyboard_tick, s);
+}
+
 /* LCD backlight controller */
 
 #define LCDTG_RESCTL	0x00
@@ -1115,6 +1120,7 @@ static void spitz_keyboard_class_init(ObjectClass *klass, void *data)
     DeviceClass *dc = DEVICE_CLASS(klass);
 
     dc->vmsd = &vmstate_spitz_kbd;
+    dc->realize = spitz_keyboard_realize;
 }
 
 static const TypeInfo spitz_keyboard_info = {