diff --git a/src/libxl/libxl_conf.c b/src/libxl/libxl_conf.c
index 4489f84695..e092b11df5 100644
--- a/src/libxl/libxl_conf.c
+++ b/src/libxl/libxl_conf.c
@@ -745,6 +745,10 @@ libxlMakeDomBuildInfo(virDomainDefPtr def,
             return -1;
         }
 
+        /* Disable VNC and SDL until explicitly enabled */
+        libxl_defbool_set(&b_info->u.hvm.vnc.enable, 0);
+        libxl_defbool_set(&b_info->u.hvm.sdl.enable, 0);
+
         /*
          * The following comment and calculation were taken directly from
          * libxenlight's internal function libxl_get_required_shadow_memory():