diff --git a/src/qemu/qemu_driver.c b/src/qemu/qemu_driver.c
index 014c99fe89..0258dbbfb9 100644
--- a/src/qemu/qemu_driver.c
+++ b/src/qemu/qemu_driver.c
@@ -5164,6 +5164,8 @@ static char *qemuDomainXMLToNative(virConnectPtr conn,
     for (i = 0 ; i < def->nnets ; i++) {
         virDomainNetDefPtr net = def->nets[i];
         int bootIndex = net->info.bootIndex;
+        char *model = net->model;
+
         if (net->type == VIR_DOMAIN_NET_TYPE_NETWORK) {
             int actualType = virDomainNetGetActualType(net);
             const char *brname;
@@ -5220,8 +5222,10 @@ static char *qemuDomainXMLToNative(virConnectPtr conn,
             net->data.ethernet.dev = brname;
             net->data.ethernet.ipaddr = ipaddr;
         }
+
         VIR_FREE(net->virtPortProfile);
         net->info.bootIndex = bootIndex;
+        net->model = model;
     }
 
     if (qemuCapsExtractVersionInfo(def->emulator, def->os.arch,