diff --git a/virt-manager b/virt-manager
index 732d9263..27026ac1 100755
--- a/virt-manager
+++ b/virt-manager
@@ -220,7 +220,7 @@ def main():
 
 
     if options.usbredir and config.get_auto_redirection():
-        config.set_auto_redirection(False)
+        config.cli_usbredir = False
 
     # Add our icon dir to icon theme
     icon_theme = Gtk.IconTheme.get_default()
diff --git a/virtManager/config.py b/virtManager/config.py
index 880775a7..fbe65dd8 100644
--- a/virtManager/config.py
+++ b/virtManager/config.py
@@ -162,6 +162,7 @@ class vmmConfig(object):
         self.libvirt_packages = cliconfig.libvirt_packages
         self.askpass_package = cliconfig.askpass_package
         self.default_graphics_from_config = cliconfig.default_graphics
+        self.cli_usbredir = None
 
         self.default_storage_format_from_config = "qcow2"
         self.cpu_default_from_config = "host-cpu-model"
@@ -390,6 +391,8 @@ class vmmConfig(object):
         self.conf.set("/console/resize-guest", pref)
 
     def get_auto_redirection(self):
+        if self.cli_usbredir is not None:
+            return self.cli_usbredir
         return self.conf.get("/console/auto-redirect")
     def set_auto_redirection(self, state):
         self.conf.set("/console/auto-redirect", state)