diff --git a/hw/core/qdev.c b/hw/core/qdev.c
index 1e7fb33246..695d7c4216 100644
--- a/hw/core/qdev.c
+++ b/hw/core/qdev.c
@@ -1037,13 +1037,6 @@ static bool device_get_hotplugged(Object *obj, Error **err)
     return dev->hotplugged;
 }
 
-static void device_set_hotplugged(Object *obj, bool value, Error **err)
-{
-    DeviceState *dev = DEVICE(obj);
-
-    dev->hotplugged = value;
-}
-
 static void device_initfn(Object *obj)
 {
     DeviceState *dev = DEVICE(obj);
@@ -1063,7 +1056,7 @@ static void device_initfn(Object *obj)
     object_property_add_bool(obj, "hotpluggable",
                              device_get_hotpluggable, NULL, NULL);
     object_property_add_bool(obj, "hotplugged",
-                             device_get_hotplugged, device_set_hotplugged,
+                             device_get_hotplugged, NULL,
                              &error_abort);
 
     class = object_get_class(OBJECT(dev));