diff --git a/src/nouveau/vulkan/nvk_device.c b/src/nouveau/vulkan/nvk_device.c
index 2466519ba29..d73e5421fe9 100644
--- a/src/nouveau/vulkan/nvk_device.c
+++ b/src/nouveau/vulkan/nvk_device.c
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ nvk_CreateDevice(VkPhysicalDevice physicalDevice,
    VkResult result = VK_ERROR_OUT_OF_HOST_MEMORY;
    struct nvk_device *dev;
 
-   dev = vk_zalloc2(&pdev->instance->vk.alloc, pAllocator,
+   dev = vk_zalloc2(&pdev->vk.instance->alloc, pAllocator,
                     sizeof(*dev), 8, VK_SYSTEM_ALLOCATION_SCOPE_DEVICE);
    if (!dev)
       return vk_error(pdev, VK_ERROR_OUT_OF_HOST_MEMORY);
diff --git a/src/nouveau/vulkan/nvk_physical_device.c b/src/nouveau/vulkan/nvk_physical_device.c
index f70b3a0802d..f8211b1077f 100644
--- a/src/nouveau/vulkan/nvk_physical_device.c
+++ b/src/nouveau/vulkan/nvk_physical_device.c
@@ -648,7 +648,6 @@ nvk_create_drm_physical_device(struct vk_instance *_instance,
    if (result != VK_SUCCESS)
       goto fail_alloc;
 
-   pdev->instance = instance;
    pdev->dev = ndev;
    pdev->info = ndev->info;
 
@@ -718,7 +717,7 @@ nvk_physical_device_destroy(struct vk_physical_device *vk_pdev)
    nvk_finish_wsi(pdev);
    nouveau_ws_device_destroy(pdev->dev);
    vk_physical_device_finish(&pdev->vk);
-   vk_free(&pdev->instance->vk.alloc, pdev);
+   vk_free(&pdev->vk.instance->alloc, pdev);
 }
 
 VKAPI_ATTR void VKAPI_CALL
diff --git a/src/nouveau/vulkan/nvk_physical_device.h b/src/nouveau/vulkan/nvk_physical_device.h
index 1696fc47b95..03bdd21b8ee 100644
--- a/src/nouveau/vulkan/nvk_physical_device.h
+++ b/src/nouveau/vulkan/nvk_physical_device.h
@@ -14,7 +14,6 @@ struct nvk_instance;
 
 struct nvk_physical_device {
    struct vk_physical_device vk;
-   struct nvk_instance *instance;
    struct nouveau_ws_device *dev;
    struct nv_device_info info;
    struct wsi_device wsi_device;
diff --git a/src/nouveau/vulkan/nvk_wsi.c b/src/nouveau/vulkan/nvk_wsi.c
index 2392c00ba8a..f245c85b933 100644
--- a/src/nouveau/vulkan/nvk_wsi.c
+++ b/src/nouveau/vulkan/nvk_wsi.c
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ static VKAPI_ATTR PFN_vkVoidFunction VKAPI_CALL
 nvk_wsi_proc_addr(VkPhysicalDevice physicalDevice, const char *pName)
 {
    VK_FROM_HANDLE(nvk_physical_device, pdev, physicalDevice);
-   return vk_instance_get_proc_addr_unchecked(&pdev->instance->vk, pName);
+   return vk_instance_get_proc_addr_unchecked(pdev->vk.instance, pName);
 }
 
 VkResult
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ nvk_init_wsi(struct nvk_physical_device *pdev)
    };
    result = wsi_device_init(&pdev->wsi_device,
                             nvk_physical_device_to_handle(pdev),
-                            nvk_wsi_proc_addr, &pdev->instance->vk.alloc,
+                            nvk_wsi_proc_addr, &pdev->vk.instance->alloc,
                             -1, NULL, &wsi_options);
    if (result != VK_SUCCESS)
       return result;
@@ -36,5 +36,5 @@ void
 nvk_finish_wsi(struct nvk_physical_device *pdev)
 {
    pdev->vk.wsi_device = NULL;
-   wsi_device_finish(&pdev->wsi_device, &pdev->instance->vk.alloc);
+   wsi_device_finish(&pdev->wsi_device, &pdev->vk.instance->alloc);
 }