diff --git a/hw/ppc/spapr.c b/hw/ppc/spapr.c
index c119f55824..3b4a557c0a 100644
--- a/hw/ppc/spapr.c
+++ b/hw/ppc/spapr.c
@@ -2452,6 +2452,7 @@ DEFINE_SPAPR_MACHINE(2_3, "2.3", false);
 static void spapr_machine_2_2_instance_options(MachineState *machine)
 {
     spapr_machine_2_3_instance_options(machine);
+    machine->suppress_vmdesc = true;
 }
 
 static void spapr_machine_2_2_class_options(MachineClass *mc)