diff --git a/qemu/tests/cfg/usb.cfg b/qemu/tests/cfg/usb.cfg
index 5971ce052a535a9def8058d7da5dffbbe08ac712..80ce897046249923a1251580878054372efc2e5f 100644
--- a/qemu/tests/cfg/usb.cfg
+++ b/qemu/tests/cfg/usb.cfg
@@ -126,6 +126,17 @@
             monitor_type = human
             monitors = hmp1
             main_monitor = hmp1
+            variants:
+                - usb_normal_test:
+                - usb_negative_test:
+                    only ehci
+                    only usb_hub
+                    only usb_default
+                    # Note: This is a workaround for the multifunction
+                    # code in qemu_vm module.
+                    usb_type_usbtest = usb-ehci
+                    usb_negative_test = "yes"
+                    usb_reply_msg = "Warning: speed mismatch trying to attach usb device"
         - usb_storage:
             type = usb_storage
             images += " stg"
diff --git a/qemu/tests/usb_hotplug.py b/qemu/tests/usb_hotplug.py
index 1ea813ef39b283b026500bf8a8859f4f7b4cd516..6edd194b4796aed11ebf847499d72b5c259f4753 100644
--- a/qemu/tests/usb_hotplug.py
+++ b/qemu/tests/usb_hotplug.py
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
-import logging, re, uuid
+import logging
 from autotest.client.shared import error
-from autotest.client import utils
 
 @error.context_aware
 def run_usb_hotplug(test, params, env):
@@ -28,6 +27,12 @@ def run_usb_hotplug(test, params, env):
 
     error.context("Plugin usb device", logging.info)
     reply = vm.monitor.cmd(monitor_add)
+    if params.get("usb_negative_test") == "yes":
+        if params["usb_reply_msg"] not in reply:
+            raise error.TestFail("Could not get expected warning msg in"
+                            " negative test, monitor returns: '%s'" % reply)
+        return
+
     if reply.find("Parameter 'driver' expects a driver name") != -1:
         raise error.TestNAError("usb device %s not available" % device)