diff --git a/hw/misc/mac_via.c b/hw/misc/mac_via.c
index e05623d730..82614c155a 100644
--- a/hw/misc/mac_via.c
+++ b/hw/misc/mac_via.c
@@ -890,6 +890,11 @@ static void mac_via_realize(DeviceState *dev, Error **errp)
     object_property_add_alias(OBJECT(dev), "irq[1]", OBJECT(ms),
                               SYSBUS_DEVICE_GPIO_IRQ "[0]");
 
+    object_property_set_bool(OBJECT(&m->mos6522_via1), true, "realized",
+                             &error_abort);
+    object_property_set_bool(OBJECT(&m->mos6522_via2), true, "realized",
+                             &error_abort);
+
     /* Pass through mos6522 input IRQs */
     qdev_pass_gpios(DEVICE(&m->mos6522_via1), dev, "via1-irq");
     qdev_pass_gpios(DEVICE(&m->mos6522_via2), dev, "via2-irq");