diff --git a/hw/ide/via.c b/hw/ide/via.c
index b556c14ac7..198123b026 100644
--- a/hw/ide/via.c
+++ b/hw/ide/via.c
@@ -225,7 +225,6 @@ static void via_ide_class_init(ObjectClass *klass, void *data)
     k->revision = 0x06;
     k->class_id = PCI_CLASS_STORAGE_IDE;
     set_bit(DEVICE_CATEGORY_STORAGE, dc->categories);
-    dc->cannot_instantiate_with_device_add_yet = true; /* FIXME explain why */
 }
 
 static const TypeInfo via_ide_info = {
diff --git a/hw/isa/vt82c686.c b/hw/isa/vt82c686.c
index b06d15e9d0..e639357db3 100644
--- a/hw/isa/vt82c686.c
+++ b/hw/isa/vt82c686.c
@@ -480,8 +480,12 @@ static void via_class_init(ObjectClass *klass, void *data)
     k->class_id = PCI_CLASS_BRIDGE_ISA;
     k->revision = 0x40;
     dc->desc = "ISA bridge";
-    dc->cannot_instantiate_with_device_add_yet = true; /* FIXME explain why */
     dc->vmsd = &vmstate_via;
+    /*
+     * Reason: part of VIA VT82C686 southbridge, needs to be wired up,
+     * e.g. by mips_fulong2e_init()
+     */
+    dc->cannot_instantiate_with_device_add_yet = true;
 }
 
 static const TypeInfo via_info = {