diff --git a/hw/usb-bus.c b/hw/usb-bus.c
index 28b517f5da..87dcc7f175 100644
--- a/hw/usb-bus.c
+++ b/hw/usb-bus.c
@@ -45,8 +45,9 @@ static int usb_qdev_init(DeviceState *qdev, DeviceInfo *base)
 
     pstrcpy(dev->devname, sizeof(dev->devname), qdev->info->name);
     dev->info = info;
+    dev->auto_attach = 1;
     rc = dev->info->init(dev);
-    if (rc == 0)
+    if (rc == 0 && dev->auto_attach)
         usb_device_attach(dev);
     return rc;
 }
diff --git a/hw/usb.h b/hw/usb.h
index a875d5b4c6..a01f334883 100644
--- a/hw/usb.h
+++ b/hw/usb.h
@@ -133,6 +133,7 @@ struct USBDevice {
     int speed;
     uint8_t addr;
     char devname[32];
+    int auto_attach;
     int attached;
 
     int state;