diff --git a/system/vl.c b/system/vl.c
index 19aef762e4b0382eeff57e88e5cce4bbfff20988..e9819408df538f939f46454c78f382674ab73ac9 100644
--- a/system/vl.c
+++ b/system/vl.c
@@ -1401,11 +1401,6 @@ static void qemu_create_default_devices(void)
 #endif
     }
 
-#if defined(CONFIG_VNC)
-    if (!QTAILQ_EMPTY(&(qemu_find_opts("vnc")->head))) {
-        display_remote++;
-    }
-#endif
     if (dpy.type == DISPLAY_TYPE_DEFAULT && !display_remote) {
         if (!qemu_display_find_default(&dpy)) {
             dpy.type = DISPLAY_TYPE_NONE;
@@ -3350,6 +3345,7 @@ void qemu_init(int argc, char **argv)
 #ifdef CONFIG_VNC
             case QEMU_OPTION_vnc:
                 vnc_parse(optarg);
+                display_remote++;
                 break;
 #endif
             case QEMU_OPTION_no_acpi: