diff --git a/backends/hostmem-file.c b/backends/hostmem-file.c
index 42efb2f28a..fc4ef46d11 100644
--- a/backends/hostmem-file.c
+++ b/backends/hostmem-file.c
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ file_backend_memory_alloc(HostMemoryBackend *backend, Error **errp)
 #ifndef CONFIG_LINUX
     error_setg(errp, "-mem-path not supported on this host");
 #else
-    if (!memory_region_size(&backend->mr)) {
+    if (!host_memory_backend_mr_inited(backend)) {
         gchar *path;
         backend->force_prealloc = mem_prealloc;
         path = object_get_canonical_path(OBJECT(backend));
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ static void set_mem_path(Object *o, const char *str, Error **errp)
     HostMemoryBackend *backend = MEMORY_BACKEND(o);
     HostMemoryBackendFile *fb = MEMORY_BACKEND_FILE(o);
 
-    if (memory_region_size(&backend->mr)) {
+    if (host_memory_backend_mr_inited(backend)) {
         error_setg(errp, "cannot change property value");
         return;
     }
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ static void file_memory_backend_set_share(Object *o, bool value, Error **errp)
     HostMemoryBackend *backend = MEMORY_BACKEND(o);
     HostMemoryBackendFile *fb = MEMORY_BACKEND_FILE(o);
 
-    if (memory_region_size(&backend->mr)) {
+    if (host_memory_backend_mr_inited(backend)) {
         error_setg(errp, "cannot change property value");
         return;
     }
diff --git a/backends/hostmem.c b/backends/hostmem.c
index d8faab4bed..4606b73849 100644
--- a/backends/hostmem.c
+++ b/backends/hostmem.c
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ host_memory_backend_set_size(Object *obj, Visitor *v, const char *name,
     Error *local_err = NULL;
     uint64_t value;
 
-    if (memory_region_size(&backend->mr)) {
+    if (host_memory_backend_mr_inited(backend)) {
         error_setg(&local_err, "cannot change property value");
         goto out;
     }
@@ -146,7 +146,7 @@ static void host_memory_backend_set_merge(Object *obj, bool value, Error **errp)
 {
     HostMemoryBackend *backend = MEMORY_BACKEND(obj);
 
-    if (!memory_region_size(&backend->mr)) {
+    if (!host_memory_backend_mr_inited(backend)) {
         backend->merge = value;
         return;
     }
@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@ static void host_memory_backend_set_dump(Object *obj, bool value, Error **errp)
 {
     HostMemoryBackend *backend = MEMORY_BACKEND(obj);
 
-    if (!memory_region_size(&backend->mr)) {
+    if (!host_memory_backend_mr_inited(backend)) {
         backend->dump = value;
         return;
     }
@@ -208,7 +208,7 @@ static void host_memory_backend_set_prealloc(Object *obj, bool value,
         }
     }
 
-    if (!memory_region_size(&backend->mr)) {
+    if (!host_memory_backend_mr_inited(backend)) {
         backend->prealloc = value;
         return;
     }
@@ -249,7 +249,7 @@ bool host_memory_backend_mr_inited(HostMemoryBackend *backend)
 MemoryRegion *
 host_memory_backend_get_memory(HostMemoryBackend *backend, Error **errp)
 {
-    return memory_region_size(&backend->mr) ? &backend->mr : NULL;
+    return host_memory_backend_mr_inited(backend) ? &backend->mr : NULL;
 }
 
 void host_memory_backend_set_mapped(HostMemoryBackend *backend, bool mapped)