diff --git a/util/qemu-sockets.c b/util/qemu-sockets.c
index d6a1e1759e..fbbef69f62 100644
--- a/util/qemu-sockets.c
+++ b/util/qemu-sockets.c
@@ -554,6 +554,33 @@ err:
 }
 
 /* compatibility wrapper */
+static int inet_parse_flag(const char *flagname, const char *optstr, bool *val,
+                           Error **errp)
+{
+    char *end;
+    size_t len;
+
+    end = strstr(optstr, ",");
+    if (end) {
+        if (end[1] == ',') { /* Reject 'ipv6=on,,foo' */
+            error_setg(errp, "error parsing '%s' flag '%s'", flagname, optstr);
+            return -1;
+        }
+        len = end - optstr;
+    } else {
+        len = strlen(optstr);
+    }
+    if (len == 0 || (len == 3 && strncmp(optstr, "=on", len) == 0)) {
+        *val = true;
+    } else if (len == 4 && strncmp(optstr, "=off", len) == 0) {
+        *val = false;
+    } else {
+        error_setg(errp, "error parsing '%s' flag '%s'", flagname, optstr);
+        return -1;
+    }
+    return 0;
+}
+
 int inet_parse(InetSocketAddress *addr, const char *str, Error **errp)
 {
     const char *optstr, *h;
@@ -561,6 +588,7 @@ int inet_parse(InetSocketAddress *addr, const char *str, Error **errp)
     char port[33];
     int to;
     int pos;
+    char *begin;
 
     memset(addr, 0, sizeof(*addr));
 
@@ -602,11 +630,19 @@ int inet_parse(InetSocketAddress *addr, const char *str, Error **errp)
         addr->has_to = true;
         addr->to = to;
     }
-    if (strstr(optstr, ",ipv4")) {
-        addr->ipv4 = addr->has_ipv4 = true;
+    begin = strstr(optstr, ",ipv4");
+    if (begin) {
+        if (inet_parse_flag("ipv4", begin + 5, &addr->ipv4, errp) < 0) {
+            return -1;
+        }
+        addr->has_ipv4 = true;
     }
-    if (strstr(optstr, ",ipv6")) {
-        addr->ipv6 = addr->has_ipv6 = true;
+    begin = strstr(optstr, ",ipv6");
+    if (begin) {
+        if (inet_parse_flag("ipv6", begin + 5, &addr->ipv6, errp) < 0) {
+            return -1;
+        }
+        addr->has_ipv6 = true;
     }
     return 0;
 }