diff --git a/src/spicelib/devices/cktcrte.c b/src/spicelib/devices/cktcrte.c
index 3ce2d57a2..9c3843c62 100644
--- a/src/spicelib/devices/cktcrte.c
+++ b/src/spicelib/devices/cktcrte.c
@@ -29,9 +29,7 @@ CKTcrtElt(CKTcircuit *ckt, GENmodel *modPtr, GENinstance **inInstPtr, IFuid name
     if(!modPtr)
 	return E_NOMOD;
 
-    type = modPtr->GENmodType;
-
-    error = CKTfndDev(ckt, &type, &instPtr, name);
+    error = CKTfndDev(ckt, NULL, &instPtr, name);
 
     if (error == OK) { 
         if (inInstPtr)
@@ -39,6 +37,8 @@ CKTcrtElt(CKTcircuit *ckt, GENmodel *modPtr, GENinstance **inInstPtr, IFuid name
         return E_EXISTS;
     }
 
+    type = modPtr->GENmodType;
+
 #ifdef TRACE
     /*------  SDB debug statement  -------*/
     printf("In CKTcrtElt, about to tmalloc new model, type = %d. . . \n", type);