diff --git a/qemu/scripts/qapi.py b/qemu/scripts/qapi.py
index 32448d10..4a26ec04 100644
--- a/qemu/scripts/qapi.py
+++ b/qemu/scripts/qapi.py
@@ -1479,10 +1479,11 @@ def c_name(name, protect=True):
                      'not_eq', 'or', 'or_eq', 'xor', 'xor_eq'])
     # namespace pollution:
     polluted_words = set(['unix', 'errno'])
+    name = name.translate(c_name_trans)
     if protect and (name in c89_words | c99_words | c11_words | gcc_words
                     | cpp_words | polluted_words):
         return "q_" + name
-    return name.translate(c_name_trans)
+    return name
 
 eatspace = '\033EATSPACE.'
 pointer_suffix = ' *' + eatspace