diff --git a/hw/pci-host/pnv_phb.c b/hw/pci-host/pnv_phb.c
index 5dc44f45d1..1f53ff77c5 100644
--- a/hw/pci-host/pnv_phb.c
+++ b/hw/pci-host/pnv_phb.c
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 #include "hw/ppc/pnv.h"
 #include "hw/qdev-properties.h"
 #include "qom/object.h"
+#include "sysemu/sysemu.h"
 
 
 /*
@@ -166,6 +167,10 @@ static void pnv_phb_realize(DeviceState *dev, Error **errp)
         pnv_phb4_bus_init(dev, PNV_PHB4(phb->backend));
     }
 
+    if (phb->version == 3 && !defaults_enabled()) {
+        return;
+    }
+
     pnv_phb_attach_root_port(pci);
 }
 
@@ -201,7 +206,7 @@ static void pnv_phb_class_init(ObjectClass *klass, void *data)
     dc->realize = pnv_phb_realize;
     device_class_set_props(dc, pnv_phb_properties);
     set_bit(DEVICE_CATEGORY_BRIDGE, dc->categories);
-    dc->user_creatable = false;
+    dc->user_creatable = true;
 }
 
 static void pnv_phb_root_port_reset(DeviceState *dev)
@@ -292,7 +297,7 @@ static void pnv_phb_root_port_class_init(ObjectClass *klass, void *data)
     device_class_set_parent_reset(dc, pnv_phb_root_port_reset,
                                   &rpc->parent_reset);
     dc->reset = &pnv_phb_root_port_reset;
-    dc->user_creatable = false;
+    dc->user_creatable = true;
 
     k->vendor_id = PCI_VENDOR_ID_IBM;
     /* device_id will be written during realize() */
diff --git a/hw/ppc/pnv.c b/hw/ppc/pnv.c
index 0208517f1a..9ce1ae7752 100644
--- a/hw/ppc/pnv.c
+++ b/hw/ppc/pnv.c
@@ -1178,20 +1178,22 @@ static void pnv_chip_power8_instance_init(Object *obj)
 
     object_initialize_child(obj, "homer", &chip8->homer, TYPE_PNV8_HOMER);
 
-    chip8->num_phbs = pcc->num_phbs;
+    if (defaults_enabled()) {
+        chip8->num_phbs = pcc->num_phbs;
 
-    for (i = 0; i < chip8->num_phbs; i++) {
-        Object *phb = object_new(TYPE_PNV_PHB);
+        for (i = 0; i < chip8->num_phbs; i++) {
+            Object *phb = object_new(TYPE_PNV_PHB);
 
-        /*
-         * We need the chip to parent the PHB to allow the DT
-         * to build correctly (via pnv_xscom_dt()).
-         *
-         * TODO: the PHB should be parented by a PEC device that, at
-         * this moment, is not modelled powernv8/phb3.
-         */
-        object_property_add_child(obj, "phb[*]", phb);
-        chip8->phbs[i] = PNV_PHB(phb);
+            /*
+             * We need the chip to parent the PHB to allow the DT
+             * to build correctly (via pnv_xscom_dt()).
+             *
+             * TODO: the PHB should be parented by a PEC device that, at
+             * this moment, is not modelled powernv8/phb3.
+             */
+            object_property_add_child(obj, "phb[*]", phb);
+            chip8->phbs[i] = PNV_PHB(phb);
+        }
     }
 
 }
@@ -2155,6 +2157,8 @@ static void pnv_machine_power8_class_init(ObjectClass *oc, void *data)
 
     pmc->compat = compat;
     pmc->compat_size = sizeof(compat);
+
+    machine_class_allow_dynamic_sysbus_dev(mc, TYPE_PNV_PHB);
 }
 
 static void pnv_machine_power9_class_init(ObjectClass *oc, void *data)