diff --git a/net/net.c b/net/net.c
index d51cb298827c539eac433c81805b5d3561cbbe44..0bec096d75b99c7b074127a588c8f8e15fe593f3 100644
--- a/net/net.c
+++ b/net/net.c
@@ -1179,6 +1179,7 @@ void hmp_host_net_remove(Monitor *mon, const QDict *qdict)
 
     qemu_del_net_client(nc->peer);
     qemu_del_net_client(nc);
+    qemu_opts_del(qemu_opts_find(qemu_find_opts("net"), device));
 }
 
 void netdev_add(QemuOpts *opts, Error **errp)