diff --git a/hmp-commands.hx b/hmp-commands.hx
index 84dcc3aae6..8e45bce2cd 100644
--- a/hmp-commands.hx
+++ b/hmp-commands.hx
@@ -1269,6 +1269,7 @@ ERST
         .help       = "add host network device",
         .cmd        = hmp_netdev_add,
         .command_completion = netdev_add_completion,
+        .flags      = "p",
     },
 
 SRST
@@ -1283,6 +1284,7 @@ ERST
         .help       = "remove host network device",
         .cmd        = hmp_netdev_del,
         .command_completion = netdev_del_completion,
+        .flags      = "p",
     },
 
 SRST
diff --git a/qapi/net.json b/qapi/net.json
index af3f5b0fda..7fab2e7cd8 100644
--- a/qapi/net.json
+++ b/qapi/net.json
@@ -55,7 +55,8 @@
 # <- { "return": {} }
 #
 ##
-{ 'command': 'netdev_add', 'data': 'Netdev', 'boxed': true }
+{ 'command': 'netdev_add', 'data': 'Netdev', 'boxed': true,
+  'allow-preconfig': true }
 
 ##
 # @netdev_del:
@@ -75,7 +76,8 @@
 # <- { "return": {} }
 #
 ##
-{ 'command': 'netdev_del', 'data': {'id': 'str'} }
+{ 'command': 'netdev_del', 'data': {'id': 'str'},
+  'allow-preconfig': true }
 
 ##
 # @NetLegacyNicOptions: