diff --git a/src/conf/domain_conf.c b/src/conf/domain_conf.c
index 9d059044e4..d886b60a84 100644
--- a/src/conf/domain_conf.c
+++ b/src/conf/domain_conf.c
@@ -4035,6 +4035,28 @@ virDomainControllerDefParseXML(xmlNodePtr node,
         VIR_FREE(vectors);
         break;
     }
+    case VIR_DOMAIN_CONTROLLER_TYPE_USB: {
+        /* If the XML has a uhci1, uhci2, uhci3 controller and no
+         * master port was given, we should set a sensible one */
+        int masterPort = -1;
+        switch (def->model) {
+        case VIR_DOMAIN_CONTROLLER_MODEL_USB_ICH9_UHCI1:
+            masterPort = 0;
+            break;
+        case VIR_DOMAIN_CONTROLLER_MODEL_USB_ICH9_UHCI2:
+            masterPort = 2;
+            break;
+        case VIR_DOMAIN_CONTROLLER_MODEL_USB_ICH9_UHCI3:
+            masterPort = 4;
+            break;
+        }
+        if (masterPort != -1 &&
+            def->info.mastertype == VIR_DOMAIN_CONTROLLER_MASTER_NONE) {
+            def->info.mastertype = VIR_DOMAIN_CONTROLLER_MASTER_USB;
+            def->info.master.usb.startport = masterPort;
+        }
+        break;
+    }
 
     default:
         break;
diff --git a/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/qemuxml2argv-usb-ich9-ehci-addr.xml b/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/qemuxml2argv-usb-ich9-ehci-addr.xml
index bf35b5548b..634d6c5e32 100644
--- a/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/qemuxml2argv-usb-ich9-ehci-addr.xml
+++ b/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/qemuxml2argv-usb-ich9-ehci-addr.xml
@@ -19,19 +19,13 @@
     <controller type='usb' index='1' model='ich9-ehci1'>
     </controller>
 
-    <controller type='usb' index='0' model='ich9-uhci1'>
-      <master startport='0'/>
-    </controller>
-    <controller type='usb' index='1' model='ich9-uhci1'>
-      <master startport='0'/>
-    </controller>
+    <controller type='usb' index='0' model='ich9-uhci1'/>
+    <controller type='usb' index='1' model='ich9-uhci1'/>
     <controller type='usb' index='2' model='ich9-uhci1'>
       <master startport='0'/>
     </controller>
 
-    <controller type='usb' index='0' model='ich9-uhci3'>
-      <master startport='4'/>
-    </controller>
+    <controller type='usb' index='0' model='ich9-uhci3'/>
     <controller type='usb' index='1' model='ich9-uhci3'>
       <master startport='4'/>
     </controller>
@@ -39,15 +33,9 @@
       <master startport='4'/>
     </controller>
 
-    <controller type='usb' index='2' model='ich9-uhci2'>
-      <master startport='2'/>
-    </controller>
-    <controller type='usb' index='1' model='ich9-uhci2'>
-      <master startport='2'/>
-    </controller>
-    <controller type='usb' index='0' model='ich9-uhci2'>
-      <master startport='2'/>
-    </controller>
+    <controller type='usb' index='2' model='ich9-uhci2'/>
+    <controller type='usb' index='1' model='ich9-uhci2'/>
+    <controller type='usb' index='0' model='ich9-uhci2'/>
     <memballoon model='virtio'/>
   </devices>
 </domain>
diff --git a/tests/qemuxml2xmloutdata/qemuxml2xmlout-usb-ich9-ehci-addr.xml b/tests/qemuxml2xmloutdata/qemuxml2xmlout-usb-ich9-ehci-addr.xml
index e7592e995a..2bb1661b4a 100644
--- a/tests/qemuxml2xmloutdata/qemuxml2xmlout-usb-ich9-ehci-addr.xml
+++ b/tests/qemuxml2xmloutdata/qemuxml2xmlout-usb-ich9-ehci-addr.xml
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
   <uuid>c7a5fdbd-edaf-9455-926a-d65c16db1809</uuid>
   <memory unit='KiB'>219136</memory>
   <currentMemory unit='KiB'>219136</currentMemory>
-  <vcpu placement='static'>1</vcpu>
+  <vcpu>1</vcpu>
   <os>
     <type arch='i686' machine='pc'>hvm</type>
     <boot dev='hd'/>