diff --git a/hw/net/virtio-net.c b/hw/net/virtio-net.c
index 96a3cc8357..66b9ff4511 100644
--- a/hw/net/virtio-net.c
+++ b/hw/net/virtio-net.c
@@ -3314,6 +3314,10 @@ static void virtio_net_device_realize(DeviceState *dev, Error **errp)
                               object_get_typename(OBJECT(dev)), dev->id, n);
     }
 
+    for (i = 0; i < n->max_queues; i++) {
+        n->nic->ncs[i].do_not_pad = true;
+    }
+
     peer_test_vnet_hdr(n);
     if (peer_has_vnet_hdr(n)) {
         for (i = 0; i < n->max_queues; i++) {