diff --git a/include/libvirt/libvirt-domain.h b/include/libvirt/libvirt-domain.h
index f1c35d97f7..385b846fc0 100644
--- a/include/libvirt/libvirt-domain.h
+++ b/include/libvirt/libvirt-domain.h
@@ -1707,6 +1707,7 @@ typedef enum {
     /* Additionally, these flags may be bitwise-OR'd in.  */
     VIR_DOMAIN_VCPU_MAXIMUM = (1 << 2), /* Max rather than current count */
     VIR_DOMAIN_VCPU_GUEST   = (1 << 3), /* Modify state of the cpu in the guest */
+    VIR_DOMAIN_VCPU_HOTPLUGGABLE = (1 << 4), /* Make vcpus added hot(un)pluggable */
 } virDomainVcpuFlags;
 
 int                     virDomainSetVcpus       (virDomainPtr domain,
diff --git a/tools/virsh-domain.c b/tools/virsh-domain.c
index 3829b17a26..2ce0a060a4 100644
--- a/tools/virsh-domain.c
+++ b/tools/virsh-domain.c
@@ -6722,6 +6722,10 @@ static const vshCmdOptDef opts_setvcpus[] = {
      .type = VSH_OT_BOOL,
      .help = N_("modify cpu state in the guest")
     },
+    {.name = "hotpluggable",
+     .type = VSH_OT_BOOL,
+     .help = N_("make added vcpus hot(un)pluggable")
+    },
     {.name = NULL}
 };
 
@@ -6736,6 +6740,7 @@ cmdSetvcpus(vshControl *ctl, const vshCmd *cmd)
     bool live = vshCommandOptBool(cmd, "live");
     bool current = vshCommandOptBool(cmd, "current");
     bool guest = vshCommandOptBool(cmd, "guest");
+    bool hotpluggable = vshCommandOptBool(cmd, "hotpluggable");
     unsigned int flags = VIR_DOMAIN_AFFECT_CURRENT;
 
     VSH_EXCLUSIVE_OPTIONS_VAR(current, live);
@@ -6752,6 +6757,8 @@ cmdSetvcpus(vshControl *ctl, const vshCmd *cmd)
         flags |= VIR_DOMAIN_VCPU_GUEST;
     if (maximum)
         flags |= VIR_DOMAIN_VCPU_MAXIMUM;
+    if (hotpluggable)
+        flags |= VIR_DOMAIN_VCPU_HOTPLUGGABLE;
 
     if (!(dom = virshCommandOptDomain(ctl, cmd, NULL)))
         return false;
diff --git a/tools/virsh.pod b/tools/virsh.pod
index 971b408369..227c9b2218 100644
--- a/tools/virsh.pod
+++ b/tools/virsh.pod
@@ -2316,7 +2316,7 @@ exclusive. If no flag is specified, behavior is different depending
 on hypervisor.
 
 =item B<setvcpus> I<domain> I<count> [I<--maximum>] [[I<--config>]
-[I<--live>] | [I<--current>]] [I<--guest>]
+[I<--live>] | [I<--current>]] [I<--guest>] [I<--hotpluggable>]
 
 Change the number of virtual CPUs active in a guest domain.  By default,
 this command works on active guest domains.  To change the settings for an
@@ -2348,6 +2348,11 @@ If I<--guest> is specified, then the count of cpus is modified in the guest
 instead of the hypervisor. This flag is usable only for live domains
 and may require guest agent to be configured in the guest.
 
+To allow adding vcpus to persistent definitions that can be later hotunplugged
+after the domain is booted it is necessary to specify the I<--hotpluggable>
+flag. Vcpus added to live domains supporting vcpu unplug are automatically
+marked as hotpluggable.
+
 The I<--maximum> flag controls the maximum number of virtual cpus that can
 be hot-plugged the next time the domain is booted.  As such, it must only be
 used with the I<--config> flag, and not with the I<--live> or the I<--current>