diff --git a/hw/pc.c b/hw/pc.c
index 5664d1b6b8..11b8618aa3 100644
--- a/hw/pc.c
+++ b/hw/pc.c
@@ -1264,7 +1264,7 @@ static void pc_init1(ram_addr_t ram_size,
             continue;
 
         if (model == NULL)
-            model = "ne2k_pci";
+            model = "e1000";
         snprintf(nic_oprom, sizeof(nic_oprom), "pxe-%s.bin", model);
 
         oprom_area_size += load_option_rom(nic_oprom, 0xc0000 + oprom_area_size,
@@ -1347,7 +1347,7 @@ static void pc_init1(ram_addr_t ram_size,
         if (!pci_enabled || (nd->model && strcmp(nd->model, "ne2k_isa") == 0))
             pc_init_ne2k_isa(nd, isa_irq);
         else
-            pci_nic_init(nd, "ne2k_pci", NULL);
+            pci_nic_init(nd, "e1000", NULL);
     }
 
     piix4_acpi_system_hot_add_init();
diff --git a/qemu-options.hx b/qemu-options.hx
index 03abb5c8d8..e3bd314509 100644
--- a/qemu-options.hx
+++ b/qemu-options.hx
@@ -828,7 +828,7 @@ DEF("net", HAS_ARG, QEMU_OPTION_net,
 STEXI
 @item -net nic[,vlan=@var{n}][,macaddr=@var{mac}][,model=@var{type}][,name=@var{name}][,addr=@var{addr}][,vectors=@var{v}]
 Create a new Network Interface Card and connect it to VLAN @var{n} (@var{n}
-= 0 is the default). The NIC is an ne2k_pci by default on the PC
+= 0 is the default). The NIC is an e1000 by default on the PC
 target. Optionally, the MAC address can be changed to @var{mac}, the
 device address set to @var{addr} (PCI cards only),
 and a @var{name} can be assigned for use in monitor commands.