diff --git a/hw/ppc/spapr.c b/hw/ppc/spapr.c
index a3f4c86a44..fa3c74e81d 100644
--- a/hw/ppc/spapr.c
+++ b/hw/ppc/spapr.c
@@ -4368,13 +4368,13 @@ DEFINE_SPAPR_MACHINE(2_3, "2.3", false);
 static void spapr_machine_2_2_instance_options(MachineState *machine)
 {
     spapr_machine_2_3_instance_options(machine);
-    machine->suppress_vmdesc = true;
 }
 
 static void spapr_machine_2_2_class_options(MachineClass *mc)
 {
     spapr_machine_2_3_class_options(mc);
     SET_MACHINE_COMPAT(mc, SPAPR_COMPAT_2_2);
+    mc->default_machine_opts = "modern-hotplug-events=off,suppress-vmdesc=on";
 }
 DEFINE_SPAPR_MACHINE(2_2, "2.2", false);