diff --git a/sys/arm64/cavium/thunder_pcie_pem.c b/sys/arm64/cavium/thunder_pcie_pem.c
index dd6ef14f1a6e..a27ed810c618 100644
--- a/sys/arm64/cavium/thunder_pcie_pem.c
+++ b/sys/arm64/cavium/thunder_pcie_pem.c
@@ -766,7 +766,7 @@ thunder_pem_probe(device_t dev)
 
 	if ((pci_vendor_id == THUNDER_PEM_VENDOR_ID) &&
 	    (pci_device_id == THUNDER_PEM_DEVICE_ID)) {
-		device_set_desc_copy(dev, THUNDER_PEM_DESC);
+		device_set_desc(dev, THUNDER_PEM_DESC);
 		return (0);
 	}