diff --git a/hw/net/virtio-net.c b/hw/net/virtio-net.c
index 3f658d6246..6ca85627d8 100644
--- a/hw/net/virtio-net.c
+++ b/hw/net/virtio-net.c
@@ -3135,10 +3135,6 @@ static bool failover_replug_primary(VirtIONet *n, Error **errp)
     }
     qdev_set_parent_bus(n->primary_dev, primary_bus, &error_abort);
     qatomic_set(&n->primary_should_be_hidden, false);
-    if (!qemu_opt_set_bool(n->primary_device_opts,
-                           "partially_hotplugged", true, errp)) {
-        return false;
-    }
     hotplug_ctrl = qdev_get_hotplug_handler(n->primary_dev);
     if (hotplug_ctrl) {
         hotplug_handler_pre_plug(hotplug_ctrl, n->primary_dev, &err);