diff --git a/src/qemu/qemu_process.c b/src/qemu/qemu_process.c
index 7f154f0349717f3d8c25fd3405e0172b47848402..64ee049361fbdb927079c3b237ff733c802bd3a7 100644
--- a/src/qemu/qemu_process.c
+++ b/src/qemu/qemu_process.c
@@ -5517,7 +5517,9 @@ int qemuProcessAttach(virConnectPtr conn ATTRIBUTE_UNUSED,
     if (running) {
         virDomainObjSetState(vm, VIR_DOMAIN_RUNNING,
                              VIR_DOMAIN_RUNNING_UNPAUSED);
-        if (vm->def->memballoon && vm->def->memballoon->period) {
+        if (vm->def->memballoon &&
+            vm->def->memballoon->model == VIR_DOMAIN_MEMBALLOON_MODEL_VIRTIO &&
+            vm->def->memballoon->period) {
             qemuDomainObjEnterMonitor(driver, vm);
             qemuMonitorSetMemoryStatsPeriod(priv->mon,
                                             vm->def->memballoon->period);