diff --git a/src/qemu/qemu_domain.c b/src/qemu/qemu_domain.c
index d7150cae15..edc901466f 100644
--- a/src/qemu/qemu_domain.c
+++ b/src/qemu/qemu_domain.c
@@ -3892,6 +3892,26 @@ qemuDomainDeviceDefValidateDisk(const virDomainDiskDef *disk)
 }
 
 
+static int
+qemuDomainDeviceDefValidateController(const virDomainControllerDef *controller)
+{
+    switch ((virDomainControllerType) controller->type) {
+    case VIR_DOMAIN_CONTROLLER_TYPE_IDE:
+    case VIR_DOMAIN_CONTROLLER_TYPE_FDC:
+    case VIR_DOMAIN_CONTROLLER_TYPE_SCSI:
+    case VIR_DOMAIN_CONTROLLER_TYPE_SATA:
+    case VIR_DOMAIN_CONTROLLER_TYPE_VIRTIO_SERIAL:
+    case VIR_DOMAIN_CONTROLLER_TYPE_CCID:
+    case VIR_DOMAIN_CONTROLLER_TYPE_USB:
+    case VIR_DOMAIN_CONTROLLER_TYPE_PCI:
+    case VIR_DOMAIN_CONTROLLER_TYPE_LAST:
+        break;
+    }
+
+    return 0;
+}
+
+
 static int
 qemuDomainDeviceDefValidate(const virDomainDeviceDef *dev,
                             const virDomainDef *def,
@@ -3936,11 +3956,14 @@ qemuDomainDeviceDefValidate(const virDomainDeviceDef *dev,
         ret = qemuDomainDeviceDefValidateDisk(dev->data.disk);
         break;
 
+    case VIR_DOMAIN_DEVICE_CONTROLLER:
+        ret = qemuDomainDeviceDefValidateController(dev->data.controller);
+        break;
+
     case VIR_DOMAIN_DEVICE_LEASE:
     case VIR_DOMAIN_DEVICE_FS:
     case VIR_DOMAIN_DEVICE_INPUT:
     case VIR_DOMAIN_DEVICE_SOUND:
-    case VIR_DOMAIN_DEVICE_CONTROLLER:
     case VIR_DOMAIN_DEVICE_GRAPHICS:
     case VIR_DOMAIN_DEVICE_HUB:
     case VIR_DOMAIN_DEVICE_MEMBALLOON: