diff --git a/docs/formatdomain.html.in b/docs/formatdomain.html.in
index 0f66b5a1fc..c4a4639300 100644
--- a/docs/formatdomain.html.in
+++ b/docs/formatdomain.html.in
@@ -4680,7 +4680,10 @@
           <dd><span class="since">since 2.5.0</span>For SCSI devices, user
             is responsible to make sure the device is not used by host. This
             <code>type</code> passes all LUNs presented by a single HBA to
-            the guest.
+            the guest. <span class="since">Since 5.1.0,</span> the
+            <code>model</code> attribute can be specified further
+            with "virtio-transitional", "virtio-non-transitional", or
+            "virtio" which matches the old behavior.
           </dd>
           <dt><code>mdev</code></dt>
           <dd>For mediated devices (<span class="since">Since 3.2.0</span>)
diff --git a/docs/schemas/domaincommon.rng b/docs/schemas/domaincommon.rng
index 7af6e2532b..2b20a60edd 100644
--- a/docs/schemas/domaincommon.rng
+++ b/docs/schemas/domaincommon.rng
@@ -4627,6 +4627,15 @@
     <attribute name="type">
       <value>scsi_host</value>
     </attribute>
+    <optional>
+      <attribute name="model">
+        <choice>
+          <value>virtio</value>
+          <value>virtio-transitional</value>
+          <value>virtio-non-transitional</value>
+        </choice>
+      </attribute>
+    </optional>
     <element name="source">
       <choice>
         <group>
diff --git a/src/conf/domain_conf.c b/src/conf/domain_conf.c
index 0a59a4e91f..8db54daeeb 100644
--- a/src/conf/domain_conf.c
+++ b/src/conf/domain_conf.c
@@ -714,6 +714,14 @@ VIR_ENUM_IMPL(virDomainHostdevSubsysSCSIHostProtocol,
               "none",
               "vhost")
 
+VIR_ENUM_IMPL(virDomainHostdevSubsysSCSIVHostModel,
+              VIR_DOMAIN_HOSTDEV_SUBSYS_SCSI_VHOST_MODEL_TYPE_LAST,
+              "default",
+              "virtio",
+              "virtio-transitional",
+              "virtio-non-transitional",
+);
+
 VIR_ENUM_IMPL(virDomainHostdevCaps, VIR_DOMAIN_HOSTDEV_CAPS_TYPE_LAST,
               "storage",
               "misc",
@@ -7692,6 +7700,7 @@ virDomainHostdevDefParseXMLSubsys(xmlNodePtr node,
     int ret = -1;
     virDomainHostdevSubsysPCIPtr pcisrc = &def->source.subsys.u.pci;
     virDomainHostdevSubsysSCSIPtr scsisrc = &def->source.subsys.u.scsi;
+    virDomainHostdevSubsysSCSIVHostPtr scsihostsrc = &def->source.subsys.u.scsi_host;
     virDomainHostdevSubsysMediatedDevPtr mdevsrc = &def->source.subsys.u.mdev;
 
     /* @managed can be read from the xml document - it is always an
@@ -7774,14 +7783,26 @@ virDomainHostdevDefParseXMLSubsys(xmlNodePtr node,
         }
     }
 
-    if (def->source.subsys.type != VIR_DOMAIN_HOSTDEV_SUBSYS_TYPE_MDEV) {
+    if (def->source.subsys.type != VIR_DOMAIN_HOSTDEV_SUBSYS_TYPE_MDEV &&
+        def->source.subsys.type != VIR_DOMAIN_HOSTDEV_SUBSYS_TYPE_SCSI_HOST) {
         if (model) {
-            virReportError(VIR_ERR_XML_ERROR, "%s",
-                           _("'model' attribute in <hostdev> is only supported "
-                             "when type='mdev'"));
+            virReportError(VIR_ERR_XML_ERROR,
+                           _("'model' attribute in <hostdev> is not supported "
+                             "for type='%s'"),
+                           virDomainHostdevSubsysTypeToString(def->source.subsys.type));
             goto cleanup;
         }
-    } else {
+    }
+
+    if (def->source.subsys.type == VIR_DOMAIN_HOSTDEV_SUBSYS_TYPE_SCSI_HOST) {
+        if (model &&
+            ((scsihostsrc->model = virDomainHostdevSubsysSCSIVHostModelTypeFromString(model)) < 0)) {
+            virReportError(VIR_ERR_XML_ERROR,
+                           _("unknown hostdev model '%s'"),
+                           model);
+            goto cleanup;
+        }
+    } else if (def->source.subsys.type == VIR_DOMAIN_HOSTDEV_SUBSYS_TYPE_MDEV) {
         if (!model) {
             virReportError(VIR_ERR_XML_ERROR, "%s",
                            _("Missing 'model' attribute in mediated device's "
@@ -27210,6 +27231,7 @@ virDomainHostdevDefFormat(virBufferPtr buf,
     const char *mode = virDomainHostdevModeTypeToString(def->mode);
     virDomainHostdevSubsysSCSIPtr scsisrc = &def->source.subsys.u.scsi;
     virDomainHostdevSubsysMediatedDevPtr mdevsrc = &def->source.subsys.u.mdev;
+    virDomainHostdevSubsysSCSIVHostPtr scsihostsrc = &def->source.subsys.u.scsi_host;
     const char *type;
 
     if (!mode) {
@@ -27260,6 +27282,12 @@ virDomainHostdevDefFormat(virBufferPtr buf,
                               virTristateBoolTypeToString(scsisrc->rawio));
         }
 
+        if (def->source.subsys.type == VIR_DOMAIN_HOSTDEV_SUBSYS_TYPE_SCSI_HOST &&
+            scsihostsrc->model) {
+            virBufferAsprintf(buf, " model='%s'",
+                              virDomainHostdevSubsysSCSIVHostModelTypeToString(scsihostsrc->model));
+        }
+
         if (def->source.subsys.type == VIR_DOMAIN_HOSTDEV_SUBSYS_TYPE_MDEV) {
             virBufferAsprintf(buf, " model='%s'",
                               virMediatedDeviceModelTypeToString(mdevsrc->model));
diff --git a/src/conf/domain_conf.h b/src/conf/domain_conf.h
index 644dde3dd3..4812339163 100644
--- a/src/conf/domain_conf.h
+++ b/src/conf/domain_conf.h
@@ -394,11 +394,23 @@ typedef enum {
 
 VIR_ENUM_DECL(virDomainHostdevSubsysSCSIHostProtocol)
 
+typedef enum {
+    VIR_DOMAIN_HOSTDEV_SUBSYS_SCSI_VHOST_MODEL_TYPE_DEFAULT,
+    VIR_DOMAIN_HOSTDEV_SUBSYS_SCSI_VHOST_MODEL_TYPE_VIRTIO,
+    VIR_DOMAIN_HOSTDEV_SUBSYS_SCSI_VHOST_MODEL_TYPE_VIRTIO_TRANSITIONAL,
+    VIR_DOMAIN_HOSTDEV_SUBSYS_SCSI_VHOST_MODEL_TYPE_VIRTIO_NON_TRANSITIONAL,
+
+    VIR_DOMAIN_HOSTDEV_SUBSYS_SCSI_VHOST_MODEL_TYPE_LAST,
+} virDomainHostdevSubsysSCSIVHostModelType;
+
+VIR_ENUM_DECL(virDomainHostdevSubsysSCSIVHostModel)
+
 typedef struct _virDomainHostdevSubsysSCSIVHost virDomainHostdevSubsysSCSIVHost;
 typedef virDomainHostdevSubsysSCSIVHost *virDomainHostdevSubsysSCSIVHostPtr;
 struct _virDomainHostdevSubsysSCSIVHost {
     int protocol; /* enum virDomainHostdevSubsysSCSIHostProtocolType */
     char *wwpn;
+    int model; /* enum virDomainHostdevSubsysSCSIVHostModelType */
 };
 
 typedef struct _virDomainHostdevSubsys virDomainHostdevSubsys;
diff --git a/src/libvirt_private.syms b/src/libvirt_private.syms
index 8d27d507cc..25038b4e92 100644
--- a/src/libvirt_private.syms
+++ b/src/libvirt_private.syms
@@ -408,6 +408,8 @@ virDomainHostdevInsert;
 virDomainHostdevModeTypeToString;
 virDomainHostdevRemove;
 virDomainHostdevSubsysPCIBackendTypeToString;
+virDomainHostdevSubsysSCSIVHostModelTypeFromString;
+virDomainHostdevSubsysSCSIVHostModelTypeToString;
 virDomainHostdevSubsysTypeToString;
 virDomainHPTResizingTypeToString;
 virDomainHubTypeFromString;
diff --git a/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/virtio-non-transitional.x86_64-3.1.0.args b/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/virtio-non-transitional.x86_64-3.1.0.args
index 827b4070d4..9c38d713b2 100644
--- a/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/virtio-non-transitional.x86_64-3.1.0.args
+++ b/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/virtio-non-transitional.x86_64-3.1.0.args
@@ -27,12 +27,15 @@ file=/tmp/lib/domain--1-QEMUGuest1/master-key.aes \
 addr=0x1 \
 -device pcie-root-port,port=0x9,chassis=2,id=pci.2,bus=pcie.0,addr=0x1.0x1 \
 -device pcie-root-port,port=0xa,chassis=3,id=pci.3,bus=pcie.0,addr=0x1.0x2 \
+-device pcie-root-port,port=0xb,chassis=4,id=pci.4,bus=pcie.0,addr=0x1.0x3 \
 -drive file=/dev/HostVG/QEMUGuest1,format=raw,if=none,id=drive-virtio-disk0 \
 -device virtio-blk-pci,disable-legacy=on,disable-modern=off,scsi=off,bus=pci.2,\
 addr=0x0,drive=drive-virtio-disk0,id=virtio-disk0,bootindex=1 \
 -netdev user,id=hostnet0 \
 -device virtio-net-pci,disable-legacy=on,disable-modern=off,netdev=hostnet0,\
 id=net0,mac=00:11:22:33:44:55,bus=pci.1,addr=0x0 \
+-device vhost-scsi-pci,wwpn=naa.5123456789abcde0,vhostfd=3,id=hostdev0,\
+bus=pci.3,addr=0x0 \
 -sandbox on,obsolete=deny,elevateprivileges=deny,spawn=deny,\
 resourcecontrol=deny \
 -msg timestamp=on
diff --git a/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/virtio-non-transitional.x86_64-latest.args b/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/virtio-non-transitional.x86_64-latest.args
index 9a0eb9a1f3..82255909c4 100644
--- a/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/virtio-non-transitional.x86_64-latest.args
+++ b/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/virtio-non-transitional.x86_64-latest.args
@@ -27,12 +27,15 @@ file=/tmp/lib/domain--1-QEMUGuest1/master-key.aes \
 addr=0x1 \
 -device pcie-root-port,port=0x9,chassis=2,id=pci.2,bus=pcie.0,addr=0x1.0x1 \
 -device pcie-root-port,port=0xa,chassis=3,id=pci.3,bus=pcie.0,addr=0x1.0x2 \
+-device pcie-root-port,port=0xb,chassis=4,id=pci.4,bus=pcie.0,addr=0x1.0x3 \
 -drive file=/dev/HostVG/QEMUGuest1,format=raw,if=none,id=drive-virtio-disk0 \
 -device virtio-blk-pci-non-transitional,scsi=off,bus=pci.2,addr=0x0,\
 drive=drive-virtio-disk0,id=virtio-disk0,bootindex=1 \
 -netdev user,id=hostnet0 \
 -device virtio-net-pci-non-transitional,netdev=hostnet0,id=net0,\
 mac=00:11:22:33:44:55,bus=pci.1,addr=0x0 \
+-device vhost-scsi-pci,wwpn=naa.5123456789abcde0,vhostfd=3,id=hostdev0,\
+bus=pci.3,addr=0x0 \
 -sandbox on,obsolete=deny,elevateprivileges=deny,spawn=deny,\
 resourcecontrol=deny \
 -msg timestamp=on
diff --git a/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/virtio-non-transitional.xml b/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/virtio-non-transitional.xml
index a1b35d1c07..32d2bdc638 100644
--- a/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/virtio-non-transitional.xml
+++ b/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/virtio-non-transitional.xml
@@ -16,6 +16,9 @@
       <mac address='00:11:22:33:44:55'/>
       <model type='virtio-non-transitional'/>
     </interface>
+    <hostdev mode='subsystem' type='scsi_host' managed='no' model='virtio-non-transitional'>
+      <source protocol='vhost' wwpn='naa.5123456789abcde0'/>
+    </hostdev>
     <controller type='usb' index='0' model='none'/>
     <memballoon model='none'/>
   </devices>
diff --git a/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/virtio-transitional.x86_64-3.1.0.args b/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/virtio-transitional.x86_64-3.1.0.args
index 9b80cd893a..4e991d6187 100644
--- a/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/virtio-transitional.x86_64-3.1.0.args
+++ b/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/virtio-transitional.x86_64-3.1.0.args
@@ -27,12 +27,15 @@ file=/tmp/lib/domain--1-QEMUGuest1/master-key.aes \
 addr=0x1 \
 -device pcie-pci-bridge,id=pci.2,bus=pci.1,addr=0x0 \
 -device pcie-root-port,port=0x9,chassis=3,id=pci.3,bus=pcie.0,addr=0x1.0x1 \
+-device pcie-root-port,port=0xa,chassis=4,id=pci.4,bus=pcie.0,addr=0x1.0x2 \
 -drive file=/dev/HostVG/QEMUGuest1,format=raw,if=none,id=drive-virtio-disk0 \
 -device virtio-blk-pci,scsi=off,bus=pci.2,addr=0x2,drive=drive-virtio-disk0,\
 id=virtio-disk0,bootindex=1 \
 -netdev user,id=hostnet0 \
 -device virtio-net-pci,netdev=hostnet0,id=net0,mac=00:11:22:33:44:55,bus=pci.2,\
 addr=0x1 \
+-device vhost-scsi-pci,wwpn=naa.5123456789abcde0,vhostfd=3,id=hostdev0,\
+bus=pci.3,addr=0x0 \
 -sandbox on,obsolete=deny,elevateprivileges=deny,spawn=deny,\
 resourcecontrol=deny \
 -msg timestamp=on
diff --git a/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/virtio-transitional.x86_64-latest.args b/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/virtio-transitional.x86_64-latest.args
index 46e139d492..dab25ba2e8 100644
--- a/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/virtio-transitional.x86_64-latest.args
+++ b/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/virtio-transitional.x86_64-latest.args
@@ -27,12 +27,15 @@ file=/tmp/lib/domain--1-QEMUGuest1/master-key.aes \
 addr=0x1 \
 -device pcie-pci-bridge,id=pci.2,bus=pci.1,addr=0x0 \
 -device pcie-root-port,port=0x9,chassis=3,id=pci.3,bus=pcie.0,addr=0x1.0x1 \
+-device pcie-root-port,port=0xa,chassis=4,id=pci.4,bus=pcie.0,addr=0x1.0x2 \
 -drive file=/dev/HostVG/QEMUGuest1,format=raw,if=none,id=drive-virtio-disk0 \
 -device virtio-blk-pci-transitional,scsi=off,bus=pci.2,addr=0x2,\
 drive=drive-virtio-disk0,id=virtio-disk0,bootindex=1 \
 -netdev user,id=hostnet0 \
 -device virtio-net-pci-transitional,netdev=hostnet0,id=net0,\
 mac=00:11:22:33:44:55,bus=pci.2,addr=0x1 \
+-device vhost-scsi-pci,wwpn=naa.5123456789abcde0,vhostfd=3,id=hostdev0,\
+bus=pci.3,addr=0x0 \
 -sandbox on,obsolete=deny,elevateprivileges=deny,spawn=deny,\
 resourcecontrol=deny \
 -msg timestamp=on
diff --git a/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/virtio-transitional.xml b/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/virtio-transitional.xml
index 18f665577a..eddc1ce9f5 100644
--- a/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/virtio-transitional.xml
+++ b/tests/qemuxml2argvdata/virtio-transitional.xml
@@ -16,6 +16,9 @@
       <mac address='00:11:22:33:44:55'/>
       <model type='virtio-transitional'/>
     </interface>
+    <hostdev mode='subsystem' type='scsi_host' managed='no' model='virtio-transitional'>
+      <source protocol='vhost' wwpn='naa.5123456789abcde0'/>
+    </hostdev>
     <controller type='usb' index='0' model='none'/>
     <memballoon model='none'/>
   </devices>
diff --git a/tests/qemuxml2xmloutdata/virtio-non-transitional.xml b/tests/qemuxml2xmloutdata/virtio-non-transitional.xml
index f0dc7c0833..2af5195dfd 100644
--- a/tests/qemuxml2xmloutdata/virtio-non-transitional.xml
+++ b/tests/qemuxml2xmloutdata/virtio-non-transitional.xml
@@ -40,6 +40,11 @@
       <target chassis='3' port='0xa'/>
       <address type='pci' domain='0x0000' bus='0x00' slot='0x01' function='0x2'/>
     </controller>
+    <controller type='pci' index='4' model='pcie-root-port'>
+      <model name='pcie-root-port'/>
+      <target chassis='4' port='0xb'/>
+      <address type='pci' domain='0x0000' bus='0x00' slot='0x01' function='0x3'/>
+    </controller>
     <interface type='user'>
       <mac address='00:11:22:33:44:55'/>
       <model type='virtio-non-transitional'/>
@@ -47,6 +52,10 @@
     </interface>
     <input type='mouse' bus='ps2'/>
     <input type='keyboard' bus='ps2'/>
+    <hostdev mode='subsystem' type='scsi_host' managed='no' model='virtio-non-transitional'>
+      <source protocol='vhost' wwpn='naa.5123456789abcde0'/>
+      <address type='pci' domain='0x0000' bus='0x03' slot='0x00' function='0x0'/>
+    </hostdev>
     <memballoon model='none'/>
   </devices>
 </domain>
diff --git a/tests/qemuxml2xmloutdata/virtio-transitional.xml b/tests/qemuxml2xmloutdata/virtio-transitional.xml
index f9729391a5..ce7b109845 100644
--- a/tests/qemuxml2xmloutdata/virtio-transitional.xml
+++ b/tests/qemuxml2xmloutdata/virtio-transitional.xml
@@ -39,6 +39,11 @@
       <target chassis='3' port='0x9'/>
       <address type='pci' domain='0x0000' bus='0x00' slot='0x01' function='0x1'/>
     </controller>
+    <controller type='pci' index='4' model='pcie-root-port'>
+      <model name='pcie-root-port'/>
+      <target chassis='4' port='0xa'/>
+      <address type='pci' domain='0x0000' bus='0x00' slot='0x01' function='0x2'/>
+    </controller>
     <interface type='user'>
       <mac address='00:11:22:33:44:55'/>
       <model type='virtio-transitional'/>
@@ -46,6 +51,10 @@
     </interface>
     <input type='mouse' bus='ps2'/>
     <input type='keyboard' bus='ps2'/>
+    <hostdev mode='subsystem' type='scsi_host' managed='no' model='virtio-transitional'>
+      <source protocol='vhost' wwpn='naa.5123456789abcde0'/>
+      <address type='pci' domain='0x0000' bus='0x03' slot='0x00' function='0x0'/>
+    </hostdev>
     <memballoon model='none'/>
   </devices>
 </domain>
