diff --git a/net/9p/client.c b/net/9p/client.c
index 812a4cdf5302..5e94dabddb68 100644
--- a/net/9p/client.c
+++ b/net/9p/client.c
@@ -1014,6 +1014,9 @@ struct p9_client *p9_client_create(const char *dev_name, char *options)
 	if (err < 0)
 		goto destroy_tagpool;
 
+	if (!clnt->trans_mod)
+		clnt->trans_mod = v9fs_get_trans_by_name("virtio");
+
 	if (!clnt->trans_mod)
 		clnt->trans_mod = v9fs_get_default_trans();