diff --git a/hw/mips/malta.c b/hw/mips/malta.c
index a4a4c38626..944045d770 100644
--- a/hw/mips/malta.c
+++ b/hw/mips/malta.c
@@ -1239,13 +1239,6 @@ void mips_malta_init(MachineState *machine)
     DeviceState *dev = qdev_new(TYPE_MIPS_MALTA);
     MaltaState *s = MIPS_MALTA(dev);
 
-    /*
-     * The whole address space decoded by the GT-64120A doesn't generate
-     * exception when accessing invalid memory. Create an empty slot to
-     * emulate this feature.
-     */
-    empty_slot_init("GT64120", 0, 0x20000000);
-
     sysbus_realize_and_unref(SYS_BUS_DEVICE(dev), &error_fatal);
 
     /* create CPU */
@@ -1399,6 +1392,12 @@ void mips_malta_init(MachineState *machine)
 
     /* Northbridge */
     pci_bus = gt64120_register(s->i8259);
+    /*
+     * The whole address space decoded by the GT-64120A doesn't generate
+     * exception when accessing invalid memory. Create an empty slot to
+     * emulate this feature.
+     */
+    empty_slot_init("GT64120", 0, 0x20000000);
 
     /* Southbridge */
     dev = piix4_create(pci_bus, &isa_bus, &smbus);