diff --git a/third-party/realdds/src/dds-device-impl.cpp b/third-party/realdds/src/dds-device-impl.cpp
index 337d4565c66..a27671e24eb 100644
--- a/third-party/realdds/src/dds-device-impl.cpp
+++ b/third-party/realdds/src/dds-device-impl.cpp
@@ -141,7 +141,7 @@ void dds_device::impl::on_notification( json && j, eprosima::fastdds::dds::Sampl
     };
 
     auto const control = j.nested( topics::reply::key::control );
-    auto const control_sample = control ? j.nested( topics::reply::key::sample ).get_json() : rsutils::json_ref( rsutils::missing_json );
+    auto const control_sample = control ? j.nested( topics::reply::key::sample ) : rsutils::json_ref( rsutils::missing_json );
 
     try
     {