diff --git a/src/vlib/node.c b/src/vlib/node.c
index ab3574b..119b471 100644
--- a/src/vlib/node.c
+++ b/src/vlib/node.c
@@ -47,8 +47,7 @@
   vlib_node_main_t *nm = &vm->node_main;
   uword *p;
   u8 *key = name;
-  if (!clib_mem_is_heap_object (vec_header (key, 0)))
-    key = format (0, "%s", key);
+  key = format (0, "%s", key);
   p = hash_get (nm->node_by_name, key);
   if (key != name)
     vec_free (key);