diff --git a/hw/usb/dev-network.c b/hw/usb/dev-network.c
index 23e3c45b5f..f341b3317b 100644
--- a/hw/usb/dev-network.c
+++ b/hw/usb/dev-network.c
@@ -1375,6 +1375,16 @@ static void usb_net_realize(USBDevice *dev, Error **errrp)
     add_boot_device_path(s->conf.bootindex, &dev->qdev, "/ethernet@0");
 }
 
+static void usb_net_instance_init(Object *obj)
+{
+    USBDevice *dev = USB_DEVICE(obj);
+    USBNetState *s = DO_UPCAST(USBNetState, dev, dev);
+
+    device_add_bootindex_property(obj, &s->conf.bootindex,
+                                  "bootindex", "/ethernet-phy@0",
+                                  &dev->qdev, NULL);
+}
+
 static USBDevice *usb_net_init(USBBus *bus, const char *cmdline)
 {
     Error *local_err = NULL;
@@ -1438,6 +1448,7 @@ static const TypeInfo net_info = {
     .parent        = TYPE_USB_DEVICE,
     .instance_size = sizeof(USBNetState),
     .class_init    = usb_net_class_initfn,
+    .instance_init = usb_net_instance_init,
 };
 
 static void usb_net_register_types(void)