diff --git a/hw/net/virtio-net.c b/hw/net/virtio-net.c
index 06bfe4bcc9..77a4fae399 100644
--- a/hw/net/virtio-net.c
+++ b/hw/net/virtio-net.c
@@ -508,6 +508,10 @@ static void virtio_net_set_queues(VirtIONet *n)
     int i;
     int r;
 
+    if (n->nic->peer_deleted) {
+        return;
+    }
+
     for (i = 0; i < n->max_queues; i++) {
         if (i < n->curr_queues) {
             r = peer_attach(n, i);