diff --git a/src/qemu/qemu_conf.c b/src/qemu/qemu_conf.c
index c709188b986493c0bde27dde6a85ae87ae461cd1..7ee60d6304f8ef0b30ddb2aae0248b12fa584a06 100644
--- a/src/qemu/qemu_conf.c
+++ b/src/qemu/qemu_conf.c
@@ -554,7 +554,7 @@ virQEMUDriverConfigPtr virQEMUDriverGetConfig(virQEMUDriverPtr driver)
 virDomainXMLOptionPtr
 virQEMUDriverCreateXMLConf(void)
 {
-    return virDomainXMLOptionNew(NULL,
+    return virDomainXMLOptionNew(&virQEMUDriverDomainDefParserConfig,
                                  &virQEMUDriverPrivateDataCallbacks,
                                  &virQEMUDriverDomainXMLNamespace);
 }
diff --git a/src/qemu/qemu_domain.c b/src/qemu/qemu_domain.c
index a0a66dd15f6bcd9cb2aae7a76e4c332c48e4e13a..80e70cd36ce6725a787c0eae8497d5f4b105e1fc 100644
--- a/src/qemu/qemu_domain.c
+++ b/src/qemu/qemu_domain.c
@@ -662,6 +662,31 @@ virDomainXMLNamespace virQEMUDriverDomainXMLNamespace = {
 };
 
 
+static int
+qemuDomainDeviceDefPostParse(virDomainDeviceDefPtr dev,
+                             virDomainDefPtr def ATTRIBUTE_UNUSED,
+                             virCapsPtr caps ATTRIBUTE_UNUSED,
+                             void *opaque ATTRIBUTE_UNUSED)
+{
+    if (dev->type == VIR_DOMAIN_DEVICE_NET &&
+        dev->data.net->type != VIR_DOMAIN_NET_TYPE_HOSTDEV) {
+        if (!dev->data.net->model &&
+            !(dev->data.net->model = strdup("rtl8139")))
+                goto no_memory;
+    }
+    return 0;
+
+no_memory:
+    virReportOOMError();
+    return -1;
+}
+
+
+virDomainDefParserConfig virQEMUDriverDomainDefParserConfig = {
+    .devicesPostParseCallback = qemuDomainDeviceDefPostParse,
+};
+
+
 static void
 qemuDomainObjSaveJob(virQEMUDriverPtr driver, virDomainObjPtr obj)
 {
diff --git a/src/qemu/qemu_domain.h b/src/qemu/qemu_domain.h
index 26d58591950a08208f28f2d29843a9fc9e6b4bdd..089ced0cb55e7286a44da07f2437c4466c3ddb1f 100644
--- a/src/qemu/qemu_domain.h
+++ b/src/qemu/qemu_domain.h
@@ -342,5 +342,6 @@ void qemuDomainCleanupRun(virQEMUDriverPtr driver,
 
 extern virDomainXMLPrivateDataCallbacks virQEMUDriverPrivateDataCallbacks;
 extern virDomainXMLNamespace virQEMUDriverDomainXMLNamespace;
+extern virDomainDefParserConfig virQEMUDriverDomainDefParserConfig;
 
 #endif /* __QEMU_DOMAIN_H__ */
diff --git a/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/qemuxml2argv-net-bandwidth.xml b/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/qemuxml2argv-net-bandwidth.xml
index bf7dde51075a981a8c795678bc69cf3e87753a01..885e8549d50e2a26f95737b1fbccfbdb7c769625 100644
--- a/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/qemuxml2argv-net-bandwidth.xml
+++ b/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/qemuxml2argv-net-bandwidth.xml
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@
     <interface type='network'>
       <mac address='52:54:00:24:a5:9f'/>
       <source network='default'/>
+      <model type='rtl8139'/>
       <bandwidth>
         <inbound average='1000' peak='4000' burst='1024'/>
         <outbound average='128' peak='256' burst='32768'/>
diff --git a/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/qemuxml2argv-net-client.args b/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/qemuxml2argv-net-client.args
index 7974f2ec63b5022a4bf54eb79433c7326237e450..34fab0aad7f6f340050b52a87b2ec45c3cd697eb 100644
--- a/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/qemuxml2argv-net-client.args
+++ b/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/qemuxml2argv-net-client.args
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 LC_ALL=C PATH=/bin HOME=/home/test USER=test LOGNAME=test /usr/bin/qemu -S -M \
 pc -m 214 -smp 1 -nographic -monitor unix:/tmp/test-monitor,server,nowait \
 -no-acpi -boot c -usb -hda /dev/HostVG/QEMUGuest1 -net nic,\
-macaddr=52:54:00:8c:b9:05,vlan=0 -net socket,connect=192.168.0.1:5558,vlan=0 \
--serial none -parallel none
+macaddr=52:54:00:8c:b9:05,vlan=0,model=rtl8139 -net socket,\
+connect=192.168.0.1:5558,vlan=0 -serial none -parallel none
diff --git a/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/qemuxml2argv-net-eth-ifname.args b/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/qemuxml2argv-net-eth-ifname.args
index cced5d519d3d082e33b823c3893cedc3d2bfdb1e..6aef3075c007f5ddae98c440b7b6c86190455468 100644
--- a/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/qemuxml2argv-net-eth-ifname.args
+++ b/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/qemuxml2argv-net-eth-ifname.args
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 LC_ALL=C PATH=/bin HOME=/home/test USER=test LOGNAME=test /usr/bin/qemu -S -M \
 pc -m 214 -smp 1 -nographic -monitor unix:/tmp/test-monitor,server,nowait \
 -no-acpi -boot c -usb -hda /dev/HostVG/QEMUGuest1 -net nic,\
-macaddr=00:11:22:33:44:55,vlan=0 -net tap,ifname=nic02,script=/etc/qemu-ifup,\
-vlan=0 -serial none -parallel none
+macaddr=00:11:22:33:44:55,vlan=0,model=rtl8139 -net tap,ifname=nic02,\
+script=/etc/qemu-ifup,vlan=0 -serial none -parallel none
diff --git a/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/qemuxml2argv-net-eth-ifname.xml b/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/qemuxml2argv-net-eth-ifname.xml
index 04a4ca483c9f5482f7319860512259df7a03942b..b150371ba86f9729ed1136ed8f7cce4949f18fcb 100644
--- a/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/qemuxml2argv-net-eth-ifname.xml
+++ b/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/qemuxml2argv-net-eth-ifname.xml
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@
       <mac address='00:11:22:33:44:55'/>
       <script path='/etc/qemu-ifup'/>
       <target dev='nic02'/>
+      <model type='rtl8139'/>
     </interface>
     <memballoon model='virtio'/>
   </devices>
diff --git a/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/qemuxml2argv-net-eth-names.args b/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/qemuxml2argv-net-eth-names.args
index dc15f635b5752750df1c81040d6f3ab3ee35f1a9..57761c5071412bff676ffb871f7e671ce2947a9e 100644
--- a/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/qemuxml2argv-net-eth-names.args
+++ b/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/qemuxml2argv-net-eth-names.args
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 LC_ALL=C PATH=/bin HOME=/home/test USER=test LOGNAME=test /usr/bin/qemu -S -M \
 pc -m 214 -smp 1 -nographic -monitor unix:/tmp/test-monitor,server,nowait \
 -no-acpi -boot c -usb -hda /dev/HostVG/QEMUGuest1 -net nic,\
-macaddr=00:11:22:33:44:55,vlan=0,name=net0 -net tap,script=/etc/qemu-ifup,\
-vlan=0,name=hostnet0 -net nic,macaddr=00:11:22:33:44:56,vlan=1,model=e1000,\
-name=net1 -net tap,script=/etc/qemu-ifup,vlan=1,name=hostnet1 -serial none \
--parallel none
+macaddr=00:11:22:33:44:55,vlan=0,model=rtl8139,name=net0 -net tap,\
+script=/etc/qemu-ifup,vlan=0,name=hostnet0 -net nic,macaddr=00:11:22:33:44:56,\
+vlan=1,model=e1000,name=net1 -net tap,script=/etc/qemu-ifup,vlan=1,name=hostnet1 \
+-serial none -parallel none
diff --git a/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/qemuxml2argv-net-eth.args b/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/qemuxml2argv-net-eth.args
index a482193ed739fbfe1e1faf2394da5e6a417e7f6a..877dac2e864aabc3b0a30690ef0de1dfdf05758a 100644
--- a/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/qemuxml2argv-net-eth.args
+++ b/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/qemuxml2argv-net-eth.args
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 LC_ALL=C PATH=/bin HOME=/home/test USER=test LOGNAME=test /usr/bin/qemu -S -M \
 pc -m 214 -smp 1 -nographic -monitor unix:/tmp/test-monitor,server,nowait \
 -no-acpi -boot c -usb -hda /dev/HostVG/QEMUGuest1 -net nic,\
-macaddr=00:11:22:33:44:55,vlan=0 -net tap,script=/etc/qemu-ifup,vlan=0 -serial \
-none -parallel none
+macaddr=00:11:22:33:44:55,vlan=0,model=rtl8139 -net tap,script=/etc/qemu-ifup,\
+vlan=0 -serial none -parallel none
diff --git a/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/qemuxml2argv-net-eth.xml b/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/qemuxml2argv-net-eth.xml
index 87dd65fdbfe2a12c78716fa07670f4e3eb7a4c91..eca5da563b91f14e741d6d18f67aaf566e396f9c 100644
--- a/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/qemuxml2argv-net-eth.xml
+++ b/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/qemuxml2argv-net-eth.xml
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
     <interface type='ethernet'>
       <mac address='00:11:22:33:44:55'/>
       <script path='/etc/qemu-ifup'/>
+      <model type='rtl8139'/>
     </interface>
     <memballoon model='virtio'/>
   </devices>
diff --git a/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/qemuxml2argv-net-hostdev.xml b/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/qemuxml2argv-net-hostdev.xml
index 81f70d0d438512b775e70bd50eca4535f560ef10..9be0d2dcaf16f23a572f777aea30298a64b311e5 100644
--- a/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/qemuxml2argv-net-hostdev.xml
+++ b/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/qemuxml2argv-net-hostdev.xml
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@
       <virtualport type='802.1Qbg'>
         <parameters managerid='11' typeid='1193047' typeidversion='2' instanceid='09b11c53-8b5c-4eeb-8f00-d84eaa0aaa4f'/>
       </virtualport>
+      <model type='rtl8139'/>
     </interface>
     <memballoon model='virtio'/>
   </devices>
diff --git a/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/qemuxml2argv-net-mcast.args b/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/qemuxml2argv-net-mcast.args
index fc2091b1c8e611e960330fd74d049ab9a6edb3ee..ed4f01e943fc954985aad32215bf4241e8316ea6 100644
--- a/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/qemuxml2argv-net-mcast.args
+++ b/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/qemuxml2argv-net-mcast.args
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 LC_ALL=C PATH=/bin HOME=/home/test USER=test LOGNAME=test /usr/bin/qemu -S -M \
 pc -m 214 -smp 1 -nographic -monitor unix:/tmp/test-monitor,server,nowait \
 -no-acpi -boot c -usb -hda /dev/HostVG/QEMUGuest1 -net nic,\
-macaddr=52:54:00:8c:b9:05,vlan=0 -net socket,mcast=192.0.0.1:5558,vlan=0 \
--serial none -parallel none
+macaddr=52:54:00:8c:b9:05,vlan=0,model=rtl8139 -net socket,mcast=192.0.0.1:5558,\
+vlan=0 -serial none -parallel none
diff --git a/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/qemuxml2argv-net-openvswitch.xml b/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/qemuxml2argv-net-openvswitch.xml
index ff098448d970f366edd733e4a5b8ae0fba6e09e9..9c2c5dc77a3fdb9969f0c1d5262c85384a14926b 100644
--- a/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/qemuxml2argv-net-openvswitch.xml
+++ b/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/qemuxml2argv-net-openvswitch.xml
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@
       <virtualport type='openvswitch'>
         <parameters interfaceid='09b11c53-8b5c-4eeb-8f00-d84eaa0aaa4f' profileid='bob'/>
       </virtualport>
+      <model type='rtl8139'/>
     </interface>
     <memballoon model='virtio'/>
   </devices>
diff --git a/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/qemuxml2argv-net-server.args b/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/qemuxml2argv-net-server.args
index 7c9d735c241d03b555b8389a835353cf02f89b80..c92a3ff92baeb08a9034ca8436afcaf8483c5459 100644
--- a/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/qemuxml2argv-net-server.args
+++ b/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/qemuxml2argv-net-server.args
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 LC_ALL=C PATH=/bin HOME=/home/test USER=test LOGNAME=test /usr/bin/qemu -S -M \
 pc -m 214 -smp 1 -nographic -monitor unix:/tmp/test-monitor,server,nowait \
 -no-acpi -boot c -usb -hda /dev/HostVG/QEMUGuest1 -net nic,\
-macaddr=52:54:00:8c:b9:05,vlan=0 -net socket,listen=192.168.0.1:5558,vlan=0 \
--serial none -parallel none
+macaddr=52:54:00:8c:b9:05,vlan=0,model=rtl8139 -net socket,\
+listen=192.168.0.1:5558,vlan=0 -serial none -parallel none
diff --git a/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/qemuxml2argv-net-user.args b/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/qemuxml2argv-net-user.args
index 73642817609854d403c3110bc364717040aebf27..814167be70b41be0c9a7881655e02ff5de1e5777 100644
--- a/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/qemuxml2argv-net-user.args
+++ b/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/qemuxml2argv-net-user.args
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 LC_ALL=C PATH=/bin HOME=/home/test USER=test LOGNAME=test /usr/bin/qemu -S -M \
 pc -m 214 -smp 1 -nographic -monitor unix:/tmp/test-monitor,server,nowait \
 -no-acpi -boot c -usb -hda /dev/HostVG/QEMUGuest1 -net nic,\
-macaddr=00:11:22:33:44:55,vlan=0 -net user,vlan=0 -serial none -parallel none
+macaddr=00:11:22:33:44:55,vlan=0,model=rtl8139 -net user,vlan=0 -serial none \
+-parallel none
diff --git a/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/qemuxml2argv-net-user.xml b/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/qemuxml2argv-net-user.xml
index 37e5edfe80d9e3de49a64e9c49333c3afd21e19e..fe3a271967ffe51e0a6f21f2f3e0c3003beef7b1 100644
--- a/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/qemuxml2argv-net-user.xml
+++ b/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/qemuxml2argv-net-user.xml
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@
     <controller type='ide' index='0'/>
     <interface type='user'>
       <mac address='00:11:22:33:44:55'/>
+      <model type='rtl8139'/>
     </interface>
     <memballoon model='virtio'/>
   </devices>
diff --git a/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/qemuxml2argv-net-virtio-network-portgroup.xml b/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/qemuxml2argv-net-virtio-network-portgroup.xml
index c84ed3f3582629ab545b95191548d4a73ccd70af..0fb9b2c959ddd9d41f2d9735fd5ed6c6fb295c13 100644
--- a/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/qemuxml2argv-net-virtio-network-portgroup.xml
+++ b/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/qemuxml2argv-net-virtio-network-portgroup.xml
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@
       <virtualport>
         <parameters instanceid='09b11c53-8b5c-4eeb-8f00-d84eaa0aaa4f' interfaceid='09b11c53-8b5c-4eeb-8f00-d84eaa0aaa4f'/>
       </virtualport>
+      <model type='rtl8139'/>
     </interface>
     <interface type='network'>
       <mac address='22:11:22:33:44:55'/>
@@ -45,6 +46,7 @@
       <virtualport type='802.1Qbh'>
         <parameters profileid='testhis99'/>
       </virtualport>
+      <model type='rtl8139'/>
     </interface>
     <memballoon model='virtio'/>
   </devices>
diff --git a/tests/qemuxml2xmloutdata/qemuxml2xmlout-graphics-spice-timeout.xml b/tests/qemuxml2xmloutdata/qemuxml2xmlout-graphics-spice-timeout.xml
index cd19b6442b3ac807dec27dcb62cb906754788753..54b68fa62feafd0a857f79cb00d5eee9ee971904 100644
--- a/tests/qemuxml2xmloutdata/qemuxml2xmlout-graphics-spice-timeout.xml
+++ b/tests/qemuxml2xmloutdata/qemuxml2xmlout-graphics-spice-timeout.xml
@@ -62,6 +62,7 @@
     <interface type='ethernet'>
       <mac address='52:54:00:71:70:89'/>
       <script path='/etc/qemu-ifup'/>
+      <model type='rtl8139'/>
       <address type='pci' domain='0x0000' bus='0x00' slot='0x07' function='0x0'/>
     </interface>
     <serial type='pty'>