diff --git a/hw/arm/virt.c b/hw/arm/virt.c
index 6a37d07ee0..96985917d3 100644
--- a/hw/arm/virt.c
+++ b/hw/arm/virt.c
@@ -2531,6 +2531,13 @@ static void virt_machine_class_init(ObjectClass *oc, void *data)
                                           "Set on/off to enable/disable emulating a "
                                           "guest CPU which implements the ARM "
                                           "Memory Tagging Extension");
+
+    object_class_property_add_bool(oc, "its", virt_get_its,
+                                   virt_set_its);
+    object_class_property_set_description(oc, "its",
+                                          "Set on/off to enable/disable "
+                                          "ITS instantiation");
+
 }
 
 static void virt_instance_init(Object *obj)
@@ -2558,11 +2565,6 @@ static void virt_instance_init(Object *obj)
     } else {
         /* Default allows ITS instantiation */
         vms->its = true;
-        object_property_add_bool(obj, "its", virt_get_its,
-                                 virt_set_its);
-        object_property_set_description(obj, "its",
-                                        "Set on/off to enable/disable "
-                                        "ITS instantiation");
     }
 
     /* Default disallows iommu instantiation */