diff --git a/hw/pci/pcie_sriov.c b/hw/pci/pcie_sriov.c
index 499becd527..e9b23221d7 100644
--- a/hw/pci/pcie_sriov.c
+++ b/hw/pci/pcie_sriov.c
@@ -204,7 +204,11 @@ static void unregister_vfs(PCIDevice *dev)
     trace_sriov_unregister_vfs(dev->name, PCI_SLOT(dev->devfn),
                                PCI_FUNC(dev->devfn), num_vfs);
     for (i = 0; i < num_vfs; i++) {
+        Error *err = NULL;
         PCIDevice *vf = dev->exp.sriov_pf.vf[i];
+        if (!object_property_set_bool(OBJECT(vf), "realized", false, &err)) {
+            error_reportf_err(err, "Failed to unplug: ");
+        }
         object_unparent(OBJECT(vf));
         object_unref(OBJECT(vf));
     }