diff --git a/net.c b/net.c
index 4cb93ed5b7..0703698ca7 100644
--- a/net.c
+++ b/net.c
@@ -1221,10 +1221,6 @@ int do_netdev_del(Monitor *mon, const QDict *qdict, QObject **ret_data)
         qerror_report(QERR_DEVICE_NOT_FOUND, id);
         return -1;
     }
-    if (vc->peer) {
-        qerror_report(QERR_DEVICE_IN_USE, id);
-        return -1;
-    }
     qemu_del_vlan_client(vc);
     qemu_opts_del(qemu_opts_find(&qemu_netdev_opts, id));
     return 0;