diff --git a/hw/core/qdev-properties-system.c b/hw/core/qdev-properties-system.c
index e71f5d64d1..a91f60567a 100644
--- a/hw/core/qdev-properties-system.c
+++ b/hw/core/qdev-properties-system.c
@@ -431,6 +431,12 @@ static void set_netdev(Object *obj, Visitor *v, const char *name,
             goto out;
         }
 
+        if (peers[i]->info->check_peer_type) {
+            if (!peers[i]->info->check_peer_type(peers[i], obj->class, errp)) {
+                goto out;
+            }
+        }
+
         ncs[i] = peers[i];
         ncs[i]->queue_index = i;
     }
diff --git a/include/net/net.h b/include/net/net.h
index 5d1508081f..986288eb07 100644
--- a/include/net/net.h
+++ b/include/net/net.h
@@ -62,6 +62,7 @@ typedef struct SocketReadState SocketReadState;
 typedef void (SocketReadStateFinalize)(SocketReadState *rs);
 typedef void (NetAnnounce)(NetClientState *);
 typedef bool (SetSteeringEBPF)(NetClientState *, int);
+typedef bool (NetCheckPeerType)(NetClientState *, ObjectClass *, Error **);
 
 typedef struct NetClientInfo {
     NetClientDriver type;
@@ -84,6 +85,7 @@ typedef struct NetClientInfo {
     SetVnetBE *set_vnet_be;
     NetAnnounce *announce;
     SetSteeringEBPF *set_steering_ebpf;
+    NetCheckPeerType *check_peer_type;
 } NetClientInfo;
 
 struct NetClientState {