diff --git a/include/hw/virtio/vhost-backend.h b/include/hw/virtio/vhost-backend.h
index 6f6670783f..b80f344cd6 100644
--- a/include/hw/virtio/vhost-backend.h
+++ b/include/hw/virtio/vhost-backend.h
@@ -112,6 +112,7 @@ typedef int (*vhost_get_inflight_fd_op)(struct vhost_dev *dev,
 typedef int (*vhost_set_inflight_fd_op)(struct vhost_dev *dev,
                                         struct vhost_inflight *inflight);
 
+typedef int (*vhost_dev_start_op)(struct vhost_dev *dev, bool started);
 typedef struct VhostOps {
     VhostBackendType backend_type;
     vhost_backend_init vhost_backend_init;
@@ -152,6 +153,7 @@ typedef struct VhostOps {
     vhost_backend_mem_section_filter_op vhost_backend_mem_section_filter;
     vhost_get_inflight_fd_op vhost_get_inflight_fd;
     vhost_set_inflight_fd_op vhost_set_inflight_fd;
+    vhost_dev_start_op vhost_dev_start;
 } VhostOps;
 
 extern const VhostOps user_ops;