diff --git a/qemu-config.c b/qemu-config.c
index f5c1a12254..bafaea2bdb 100644
--- a/qemu-config.c
+++ b/qemu-config.c
@@ -152,6 +152,18 @@ QemuOptsList qemu_device_opts = {
     },
 };
 
+QemuOptsList qemu_net_opts = {
+    .name = "net",
+    .head = QTAILQ_HEAD_INITIALIZER(qemu_net_opts.head),
+    .desc = {
+        /*
+         * no elements => accept any params
+         * validation will happen later
+         */
+        { /* end of list */ }
+    },
+};
+
 QemuOptsList qemu_rtc_opts = {
     .name = "rtc",
     .head = QTAILQ_HEAD_INITIALIZER(qemu_rtc_opts.head),
@@ -176,6 +188,7 @@ static QemuOptsList *lists[] = {
     &qemu_drive_opts,
     &qemu_chardev_opts,
     &qemu_device_opts,
+    &qemu_net_opts,
     &qemu_rtc_opts,
     NULL,
 };
diff --git a/qemu-config.h b/qemu-config.h
index 4ae7b74fe1..cdad5ac583 100644
--- a/qemu-config.h
+++ b/qemu-config.h
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 extern QemuOptsList qemu_drive_opts;
 extern QemuOptsList qemu_chardev_opts;
 extern QemuOptsList qemu_device_opts;
+extern QemuOptsList qemu_net_opts;
 extern QemuOptsList qemu_rtc_opts;
 
 int qemu_set_option(const char *str);