diff --git a/src/qemu/qemu_domain.c b/src/qemu/qemu_domain.c
index 94587638c3..7a03603218 100644
--- a/src/qemu/qemu_domain.c
+++ b/src/qemu/qemu_domain.c
@@ -3920,7 +3920,9 @@ qemuDomainDefSuggestDefaultAudioBackend(virQEMUDriver *driver,
                 audioPassthrough = true;
             } else {
                 audioPassthrough = false;
-                *audioBackend = VIR_DOMAIN_AUDIO_TYPE_NONE;
+                if (!*addAudio) {
+                    *audioBackend = VIR_DOMAIN_AUDIO_TYPE_NONE;
+                }
             }
             *addAudio = true;
             break;