diff --git a/hw/core/qdev.c b/hw/core/qdev.c
index 7c1b7325ca..482a9780d1 100644
--- a/hw/core/qdev.c
+++ b/hw/core/qdev.c
@@ -590,7 +590,7 @@ static void qdev_get_legacy_property(Object *obj, Visitor *v, void *opaque,
 void qdev_property_add_legacy(DeviceState *dev, Property *prop,
                               Error **errp)
 {
-    gchar *name, *type;
+    gchar *name;
 
     /* Register pointer properties as legacy properties */
     if (!prop->info->print && prop->info->get) {
@@ -598,16 +598,12 @@ void qdev_property_add_legacy(DeviceState *dev, Property *prop,
     }
 
     name = g_strdup_printf("legacy-%s", prop->name);
-    type = g_strdup_printf("legacy<%s>",
-                           prop->info->legacy_name ?: prop->info->name);
-
-    object_property_add(OBJECT(dev), name, type,
+    object_property_add(OBJECT(dev), name, "str",
                         prop->info->print ? qdev_get_legacy_property : prop->info->get,
                         NULL,
                         NULL,
                         prop, errp);
 
-    g_free(type);
     g_free(name);
 }