diff --git a/src/qemu/qemu_command.c b/src/qemu/qemu_command.c
index 33f2ecd533..6c28123f70 100644
--- a/src/qemu/qemu_command.c
+++ b/src/qemu/qemu_command.c
@@ -6159,6 +6159,7 @@ qemuBuildCommandLine(virConnectPtr conn,
 
             if (actualType == VIR_DOMAIN_NET_TYPE_NETWORK ||
                 actualType == VIR_DOMAIN_NET_TYPE_BRIDGE ||
+                actualType == VIR_DOMAIN_NET_TYPE_ETHERNET ||
                 actualType == VIR_DOMAIN_NET_TYPE_DIRECT) {
                 /* Attempt to use vhost-net mode for these types of
                    network device */
diff --git a/src/qemu/qemu_hotplug.c b/src/qemu/qemu_hotplug.c
index 4504f0b8b8..0c28a6a3a9 100644
--- a/src/qemu/qemu_hotplug.c
+++ b/src/qemu/qemu_hotplug.c
@@ -754,6 +754,9 @@ int qemuDomainAttachNetDevice(virConnectPtr conn,
         iface_connected = true;
         if (qemuOpenVhostNet(vm->def, net, priv->qemuCaps, &vhostfd) < 0)
             goto cleanup;
+    } else if (actualType == VIR_DOMAIN_NET_TYPE_ETHERNET) {
+        if (qemuOpenVhostNet(vm->def, net, priv->qemuCaps, &vhostfd) < 0)
+            goto cleanup;
     }
 
     if (virQEMUCapsGet(priv->qemuCaps, QEMU_CAPS_NET_NAME) ||