diff --git a/vl.c b/vl.c
index 57378b6527..d88a18c047 100644
--- a/vl.c
+++ b/vl.c
@@ -3006,6 +3006,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv, char **envp)
                 default_floppy = 0;
                 default_cdrom = 0;
                 default_sdcard = 0;
+                vga_model = "none";
                 break;
             case QEMU_OPTION_xen_domid:
                 if (!(xen_available())) {