diff --git a/src/libvirt_private.syms b/src/libvirt_private.syms
index f20e5ce3ad..642c2bca98 100644
--- a/src/libvirt_private.syms
+++ b/src/libvirt_private.syms
@@ -88,6 +88,8 @@ virDomainGetRootFilesystem;
 virDomainGraphicsTypeFromString;
 virDomainGraphicsDefFree;
 virDomainHostdevDefFree;
+virDomainHostdevModeTypeToString;
+virDomainHostdevSubsysTypeToString;
 virDomainInputDefFree;
 virDomainLifecycleTypeFromString;
 virDomainLifecycleTypeToString;
diff --git a/src/qemu_driver.c b/src/qemu_driver.c
index 3ec8451896..f181f27e2b 100644
--- a/src/qemu_driver.c
+++ b/src/qemu_driver.c
@@ -5148,9 +5148,9 @@ cleanup:
     return -1;
 }
 
-static int qemudDomainAttachHostDevice(virConnectPtr conn,
-                                       virDomainObjPtr vm,
-                                       virDomainDeviceDefPtr dev)
+static int qemudDomainAttachHostUsbDevice(virConnectPtr conn,
+                                          virDomainObjPtr vm,
+                                          virDomainDeviceDefPtr dev)
 {
     int ret;
     char *cmd, *reply;
@@ -5200,6 +5200,34 @@ static int qemudDomainAttachHostDevice(virConnectPtr conn,
     return 0;
 }
 
+static int qemudDomainAttachHostDevice(virConnectPtr conn,
+                                       struct qemud_driver *driver,
+                                       virDomainObjPtr vm,
+                                       virDomainDeviceDefPtr dev)
+{
+    virDomainHostdevDefPtr hostdev = dev->data.hostdev;
+
+    if (hostdev->mode != VIR_DOMAIN_HOSTDEV_MODE_SUBSYS) {
+        qemudReportError(conn, dom, NULL, VIR_ERR_NO_SUPPORT,
+                         _("hostdev mode '%s' not supported"),
+                         virDomainHostdevModeTypeToString(hostdev->mode));
+        return -1;
+    }
+
+    if (qemuDomainSetDeviceOwnership(conn, driver, dev, 0) < 0)
+        return -1;
+
+    switch (hostdev->source.subsys.type) {
+    case VIR_DOMAIN_HOSTDEV_SUBSYS_TYPE_USB:
+        return qemudDomainAttachHostUsbDevice(conn, vm, dev);
+    default:
+        qemudReportError(conn, dom, NULL, VIR_ERR_NO_SUPPORT,
+                         _("hostdev subsys type '%s' not supported"),
+                         virDomainHostdevSubsysTypeToString(hostdev->source.subsys.type));
+        return -1;
+    }
+}
+
 static int qemudDomainAttachDevice(virDomainPtr dom,
                                    const char *xml) {
     struct qemud_driver *driver = dom->conn->privateData;
@@ -5301,13 +5329,8 @@ static int qemudDomainAttachDevice(virDomainPtr dom,
         }
     } else if (dev->type == VIR_DOMAIN_DEVICE_NET) {
         ret = qemudDomainAttachNetDevice(dom->conn, driver, vm, dev, qemuCmdFlags);
-    } else if (dev->type == VIR_DOMAIN_DEVICE_HOSTDEV &&
-               dev->data.hostdev->mode == VIR_DOMAIN_HOSTDEV_MODE_SUBSYS &&
-               dev->data.hostdev->source.subsys.type == VIR_DOMAIN_HOSTDEV_SUBSYS_TYPE_USB) {
-        if (qemuDomainSetDeviceOwnership(dom->conn, driver, dev, 0) < 0)
-            goto cleanup;
-
-        ret = qemudDomainAttachHostDevice(dom->conn, vm, dev);
+    } else if (dev->type == VIR_DOMAIN_DEVICE_HOSTDEV) {
+        ret = qemudDomainAttachHostDevice(dom->conn, driver, vm, dev);
     } else {
         qemudReportError(dom->conn, dom, NULL, VIR_ERR_NO_SUPPORT,
                          _("device type '%s' cannot be attached"),