diff --git a/src/bhyve/bhyve_command.c b/src/bhyve/bhyve_command.c
index 84fda08943..78f8a88290 100644
--- a/src/bhyve/bhyve_command.c
+++ b/src/bhyve/bhyve_command.c
@@ -56,16 +56,16 @@ bhyveBuildNetArgStr(virConnectPtr conn,
     int ret = -1;
     virDomainNetType actualType = virDomainNetGetActualType(net);
 
-    if (net->model == NULL) {
+    if (!virDomainNetGetModelString(net)) {
         virReportError(VIR_ERR_CONFIG_UNSUPPORTED, "%s",
                        _("NIC model must be specified"));
         return -1;
     }
 
-    if (STREQ(net->model, "virtio")) {
+    if (virDomainNetStreqModelString(net, "virtio")) {
         if (VIR_STRDUP(nic_model, "virtio-net") < 0)
             return -1;
-    } else if (STREQ(net->model, "e1000")) {
+    } else if (virDomainNetStreqModelString(net, "e1000")) {
         if ((bhyveDriverGetCaps(conn) & BHYVE_CAP_NET_E1000) != 0) {
             if (VIR_STRDUP(nic_model, "e1000") < 0)
                 return -1;
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ bhyveBuildNetArgStr(virConnectPtr conn,
     } else {
         virReportError(VIR_ERR_CONFIG_UNSUPPORTED,
                        _("NIC model '%s' is not supported"),
-                       net->model);
+                       virDomainNetGetModelString(net));
         return -1;
     }
 
diff --git a/src/bhyve/bhyve_parse_command.c b/src/bhyve/bhyve_parse_command.c
index 1c9191fb96..cf0b2db30a 100644
--- a/src/bhyve/bhyve_parse_command.c
+++ b/src/bhyve/bhyve_parse_command.c
@@ -513,7 +513,7 @@ bhyveParsePCINet(virDomainDefPtr def,
     if (VIR_STRDUP(net->data.bridge.brname, "virbr0") < 0)
         goto error;
 
-    if (VIR_STRDUP(net->model, model) < 0)
+    if (virDomainNetSetModelString(net, model) < 0)
         goto error;
 
     net->info.type = VIR_DOMAIN_DEVICE_ADDRESS_TYPE_PCI;
diff --git a/src/conf/domain_conf.c b/src/conf/domain_conf.c
index 46fbc0befc..778b842979 100644
--- a/src/conf/domain_conf.c
+++ b/src/conf/domain_conf.c
@@ -25565,9 +25565,9 @@ virDomainNetDefFormat(virBufferPtr buf,
             virBufferEscapeString(buf, " actual='%s'", def->ifname_guest_actual);
         virBufferAddLit(buf, "/>\n");
     }
-    if (def->model) {
+    if (virDomainNetGetModelString(def)) {
         virBufferEscapeString(buf, "<model type='%s'/>\n",
-                              def->model);
+                              virDomainNetGetModelString(def));
         if (virDomainNetHasVirtioModel(def)) {
             char *str = NULL, *gueststr = NULL, *hoststr = NULL;
             int rc = 0;
@@ -29838,13 +29838,39 @@ virDomainNetGetActualTrustGuestRxFilters(virDomainNetDefPtr iface)
     return iface->trustGuestRxFilters == VIR_TRISTATE_BOOL_YES;
 }
 
+const char *
+virDomainNetGetModelString(const virDomainNetDef *iface)
+{
+    return iface->model;
+}
+
+int
+virDomainNetSetModelString(virDomainNetDefPtr iface,
+                           const char *model)
+{
+    return VIR_STRDUP(iface->model, model);
+}
+
+int
+virDomainNetStreqModelString(const virDomainNetDef *iface,
+                             const char *model)
+{
+    return STREQ_NULLABLE(iface->model, model);
+}
+
+int
+virDomainNetStrcaseeqModelString(const virDomainNetDef *iface,
+                                 const char *model)
+{
+    return iface->model && STRCASEEQ(iface->model, model);
+}
 
 bool
 virDomainNetHasVirtioModel(const virDomainNetDef *iface)
 {
-    return (STREQ_NULLABLE(iface->model, "virtio") ||
-            STREQ_NULLABLE(iface->model, "virtio-transitional") ||
-            STREQ_NULLABLE(iface->model, "virtio-non-transitional"));
+    return (virDomainNetStreqModelString(iface, "virtio") ||
+            virDomainNetStreqModelString(iface, "virtio-transitional") ||
+            virDomainNetStreqModelString(iface, "virtio-non-transitional"));
 }
 
 
diff --git a/src/conf/domain_conf.h b/src/conf/domain_conf.h
index 0d801b0d6d..8f856c2d14 100644
--- a/src/conf/domain_conf.h
+++ b/src/conf/domain_conf.h
@@ -3271,6 +3271,13 @@ virNetDevBandwidthPtr
 virDomainNetGetActualBandwidth(virDomainNetDefPtr iface);
 virNetDevVlanPtr virDomainNetGetActualVlan(virDomainNetDefPtr iface);
 bool virDomainNetGetActualTrustGuestRxFilters(virDomainNetDefPtr iface);
+const char *virDomainNetGetModelString(const virDomainNetDef *iface);
+int virDomainNetSetModelString(virDomainNetDefPtr iface,
+                               const char *model);
+int virDomainNetStreqModelString(const virDomainNetDef *iface,
+                                 const char *model);
+int virDomainNetStrcaseeqModelString(const virDomainNetDef *iface,
+                                     const char *model);
 bool virDomainNetHasVirtioModel(const virDomainNetDef *iface);
 int virDomainNetAppendIPAddress(virDomainNetDefPtr def,
                                 const char *address,
diff --git a/src/libvirt_private.syms b/src/libvirt_private.syms
index 60a193450b..afb5975352 100644
--- a/src/libvirt_private.syms
+++ b/src/libvirt_private.syms
@@ -472,6 +472,7 @@ virDomainNetGetActualTrustGuestRxFilters;
 virDomainNetGetActualType;
 virDomainNetGetActualVirtPortProfile;
 virDomainNetGetActualVlan;
+virDomainNetGetModelString;
 virDomainNetHasVirtioModel;
 virDomainNetInsert;
 virDomainNetNotifyActualDevice;
@@ -480,6 +481,9 @@ virDomainNetRemove;
 virDomainNetRemoveHostdev;
 virDomainNetResolveActualType;
 virDomainNetSetDeviceImpl;
+virDomainNetSetModelString;
+virDomainNetStrcaseeqModelString;
+virDomainNetStreqModelString;
 virDomainNetTypeFromString;
 virDomainNetTypeSharesHostView;
 virDomainNetTypeToString;
diff --git a/src/libxl/libxl_conf.c b/src/libxl/libxl_conf.c
index 4102a940b9..29aa04583c 100644
--- a/src/libxl/libxl_conf.c
+++ b/src/libxl/libxl_conf.c
@@ -1266,18 +1266,18 @@ libxlMakeNic(virDomainDefPtr def,
      * xen commit 32e9d0f ("libxl: nic type defaults to vif in hotplug for
      * hvm guest").
      */
-    if (l_nic->model) {
+    if (virDomainNetGetModelString(l_nic)) {
         if ((def->os.type == VIR_DOMAIN_OSTYPE_XEN ||
             def->os.type == VIR_DOMAIN_OSTYPE_XENPVH) &&
-            STRNEQ(l_nic->model, "netfront")) {
+            !virDomainNetStreqModelString(l_nic, "netfront")) {
             virReportError(VIR_ERR_CONFIG_UNSUPPORTED, "%s",
                            _("only model 'netfront' is supported for "
                              "Xen PV(H) domains"));
             return -1;
         }
-        if (VIR_STRDUP(x_nic->model, l_nic->model) < 0)
+        if (VIR_STRDUP(x_nic->model, virDomainNetGetModelString(l_nic)) < 0)
             goto cleanup;
-        if (STREQ(l_nic->model, "netfront"))
+        if (virDomainNetStreqModelString(l_nic, "netfront"))
             x_nic->nictype = LIBXL_NIC_TYPE_VIF;
         else
             x_nic->nictype = LIBXL_NIC_TYPE_VIF_IOEMU;
diff --git a/src/qemu/qemu_command.c b/src/qemu/qemu_command.c
index 940d55b1b1..83222dd0be 100644
--- a/src/qemu/qemu_command.c
+++ b/src/qemu/qemu_command.c
@@ -3779,13 +3779,14 @@ qemuBuildLegacyNicStr(virDomainNetDefPtr net)
 {
     char *str;
     char macaddr[VIR_MAC_STRING_BUFLEN];
+    const char *netmodel = virDomainNetGetModelString(net);
 
     ignore_value(virAsprintf(&str,
                              "nic,macaddr=%s,netdev=host%s%s%s%s%s",
                              virMacAddrFormat(&net->mac, macaddr),
                              net->info.alias,
-                             (net->model ? ",model=" : ""),
-                             (net->model ? net->model : ""),
+                             (netmodel ? ",model=" : ""),
+                             (netmodel ? netmodel : ""),
                              (net->info.alias ? ",id=" : ""),
                              (net->info.alias ? net->info.alias : "")));
     return str;
@@ -3805,14 +3806,14 @@ qemuBuildNicDevStr(virDomainDefPtr def,
 
     if (virDomainNetHasVirtioModel(net)) {
         if (qemuBuildVirtioTransitional(&buf, "virtio-net", qemuCaps,
-                                        net->info.type,
-                                        0, net->model,
+                                        net->info.type, 0,
+                                        virDomainNetGetModelString(net),
                                         VIR_DOMAIN_DEVICE_NET) < 0)
             goto error;
 
         usingVirtio = true;
     } else {
-        virBufferAddStr(&buf, net->model);
+        virBufferAddStr(&buf, virDomainNetGetModelString(net));
     }
 
     if (usingVirtio && net->driver.virtio.txmode) {
diff --git a/src/qemu/qemu_domain.c b/src/qemu/qemu_domain.c
index 85f7b6a4c8..38e86b8ad1 100644
--- a/src/qemu/qemu_domain.c
+++ b/src/qemu/qemu_domain.c
@@ -6565,8 +6565,8 @@ qemuDomainDeviceNetDefPostParse(virDomainNetDefPtr net,
                                 virQEMUCapsPtr qemuCaps)
 {
     if (net->type != VIR_DOMAIN_NET_TYPE_HOSTDEV &&
-        !net->model) {
-        if (VIR_STRDUP(net->model,
+        !virDomainNetGetModelString(net)) {
+        if (virDomainNetSetModelString(net,
                        qemuDomainDefaultNetModel(def, qemuCaps)) < 0)
             return -1;
     }
diff --git a/src/qemu/qemu_domain_address.c b/src/qemu/qemu_domain_address.c
index 50cc47b7b3..c0843bdad6 100644
--- a/src/qemu/qemu_domain_address.c
+++ b/src/qemu/qemu_domain_address.c
@@ -230,10 +230,8 @@ qemuDomainAssignSpaprVIOAddresses(virDomainDefPtr def)
     for (i = 0; i < def->nnets; i++) {
         virDomainNetDefPtr net = def->nets[i];
 
-        if (net->model &&
-            STREQ(net->model, "spapr-vlan")) {
+        if (virDomainNetStreqModelString(net, "spapr-vlan"))
             net->info.type = VIR_DOMAIN_DEVICE_ADDRESS_TYPE_SPAPRVIO;
-        }
 
         if (qemuDomainAssignSpaprVIOAddress(def, &net->info, VIO_ADDR_NET) < 0)
             goto cleanup;
@@ -696,18 +694,18 @@ qemuDomainDeviceCalculatePCIConnectFlags(virDomainDeviceDefPtr dev,
          * addresses for other hostdev devices.
          */
         if (net->type == VIR_DOMAIN_NET_TYPE_HOSTDEV ||
-            STREQ(net->model, "usb-net")) {
+            virDomainNetStreqModelString(net, "usb-net")) {
             return 0;
         }
 
-        if (STREQ(net->model, "virtio") ||
-            STREQ(net->model, "virtio-non-transitional"))
+        if (virDomainNetStreqModelString(net, "virtio") ||
+            virDomainNetStreqModelString(net, "virtio-non-transitional"))
             return virtioFlags;
 
-        if (STREQ(net->model, "virtio-transitional"))
+        if (virDomainNetStreqModelString(net, "virtio-transitional"))
             return pciFlags;
 
-        if (STREQ(net->model, "e1000e"))
+        if (virDomainNetStreqModelString(net, "e1000e"))
             return pcieFlags;
 
         return pciFlags;
diff --git a/src/qemu/qemu_driver.c b/src/qemu/qemu_driver.c
index 949c09aba4..ba8b7d13a8 100644
--- a/src/qemu/qemu_driver.c
+++ b/src/qemu/qemu_driver.c
@@ -7449,20 +7449,28 @@ static char *qemuConnectDomainXMLToNative(virConnectPtr conn,
     for (i = 0; i < vm->def->nnets; i++) {
         virDomainNetDefPtr net = vm->def->nets[i];
         unsigned int bootIndex = net->info.bootIndex;
-        char *model = net->model;
+        char *model;
         virMacAddr mac = net->mac;
         char *script = net->script;
 
-        net->model = NULL;
+        if (virDomainNetGetModelString(net) &&
+            VIR_STRDUP(model, virDomainNetGetModelString(net)) < 0)
+            goto cleanup;
+
         net->script = NULL;
 
         virDomainNetDefClear(net);
 
         net->type = VIR_DOMAIN_NET_TYPE_ETHERNET;
         net->info.bootIndex = bootIndex;
-        net->model = model;
         net->mac = mac;
         net->script = script;
+
+        if (model && virDomainNetSetModelString(net, model) < 0) {
+            VIR_FREE(model);
+            goto cleanup;
+        }
+        VIR_FREE(model);
     }
 
     if (!(cmd = qemuProcessCreatePretendCmd(driver, vm, NULL,
diff --git a/src/qemu/qemu_hotplug.c b/src/qemu/qemu_hotplug.c
index 2fdc71d07b..b0a99ed853 100644
--- a/src/qemu/qemu_hotplug.c
+++ b/src/qemu/qemu_hotplug.c
@@ -3702,11 +3702,12 @@ qemuDomainChangeNet(virQEMUDriverPtr driver,
         goto cleanup;
     }
 
-    if (STRNEQ_NULLABLE(olddev->model, newdev->model)) {
+    if (STRNEQ_NULLABLE(virDomainNetGetModelString(olddev),
+                        virDomainNetGetModelString(newdev))) {
         virReportError(VIR_ERR_OPERATION_UNSUPPORTED,
                        _("cannot modify network device model from %s to %s"),
-                       olddev->model ? olddev->model : "(default)",
-                       newdev->model ? newdev->model : "(default)");
+                       NULLSTR(virDomainNetGetModelString(olddev)),
+                       NULLSTR(virDomainNetGetModelString(newdev)));
         goto cleanup;
     }
 
diff --git a/src/qemu/qemu_parse_command.c b/src/qemu/qemu_parse_command.c
index c4650f01e0..0a080f3ece 100644
--- a/src/qemu/qemu_parse_command.c
+++ b/src/qemu/qemu_parse_command.c
@@ -1111,8 +1111,9 @@ qemuParseCommandLineNet(virDomainXMLOptionPtr xmlopt,
                 goto error;
             }
         } else if (STREQ(keywords[i], "model")) {
-            def->model = values[i];
-            values[i] = NULL;
+            if (virDomainNetSetModelString(def, values[i]) < 0)
+                goto error;
+            VIR_FREE(values[i]);
         } else if (STREQ(keywords[i], "vhost")) {
             if ((values[i] == NULL) || STREQ(values[i], "on")) {
                 def->driver.virtio.name = VIR_DOMAIN_NET_BACKEND_TYPE_VHOST;
diff --git a/src/vbox/vbox_common.c b/src/vbox/vbox_common.c
index 00d43d9a83..fa8d899fec 100644
--- a/src/vbox/vbox_common.c
+++ b/src/vbox/vbox_common.c
@@ -1309,7 +1309,7 @@ vboxAttachNetwork(virDomainDefPtr def, vboxDriverPtr data, IMachine *machine)
         macaddrvbox[VIR_MAC_STRING_BUFLEN - 6] = '\0';
 
         VIR_DEBUG("NIC(%zu): Type:   %d", i, def->nets[i]->type);
-        VIR_DEBUG("NIC(%zu): Model:  %s", i, def->nets[i]->model);
+        VIR_DEBUG("NIC(%zu): Model:  %s", i, virDomainNetGetModelString(def->nets[i]));
         VIR_DEBUG("NIC(%zu): Mac:    %s", i, macaddr);
         VIR_DEBUG("NIC(%zu): ifname: %s", i, def->nets[i]->ifname);
         if (def->nets[i]->type == VIR_DOMAIN_NET_TYPE_NETWORK) {
@@ -1338,19 +1338,19 @@ vboxAttachNetwork(virDomainDefPtr def, vboxDriverPtr data, IMachine *machine)
 
         gVBoxAPI.UINetworkAdapter.SetEnabled(adapter, 1);
 
-        if (def->nets[i]->model) {
-            if (STRCASEEQ(def->nets[i]->model, "Am79C970A")) {
+        if (virDomainNetGetModelString(def->nets[i])) {
+            if (virDomainNetStrcaseeqModelString(def->nets[i], "Am79C970A")) {
                 adapterType = NetworkAdapterType_Am79C970A;
-            } else if (STRCASEEQ(def->nets[i]->model, "Am79C973")) {
+            } else if (virDomainNetStrcaseeqModelString(def->nets[i], "Am79C973")) {
                 adapterType = NetworkAdapterType_Am79C973;
-            } else if (STRCASEEQ(def->nets[i]->model, "82540EM")) {
+            } else if (virDomainNetStrcaseeqModelString(def->nets[i], "82540EM")) {
                 adapterType = NetworkAdapterType_I82540EM;
-            } else if (STRCASEEQ(def->nets[i]->model, "82545EM")) {
+            } else if (virDomainNetStrcaseeqModelString(def->nets[i], "82545EM")) {
                 adapterType = NetworkAdapterType_I82545EM;
-            } else if (STRCASEEQ(def->nets[i]->model, "82543GC")) {
+            } else if (virDomainNetStrcaseeqModelString(def->nets[i], "82543GC")) {
                 adapterType = NetworkAdapterType_I82543GC;
             } else if (gVBoxAPI.APIVersion >= 3000051 &&
-                       STRCASEEQ(def->nets[i]->model, "virtio")) {
+                       virDomainNetStrcaseeqModelString(def->nets[i], "virtio")) {
                 /* Only vbox 3.1 and later support NetworkAdapterType_Virto */
                 adapterType = NetworkAdapterType_Virtio;
             }
@@ -3762,7 +3762,7 @@ vboxDumpNetwork(vboxDriverPtr data, INetworkAdapter *adapter)
             model = "virtio";
         break;
     }
-    if (VIR_STRDUP(net->model, model) < 0)
+    if (virDomainNetSetModelString(net, model) < 0)
         goto error;
 
     gVBoxAPI.UINetworkAdapter.GetMACAddress(adapter, &utf16);
diff --git a/src/vmx/vmx.c b/src/vmx/vmx.c
index a853c05e86..7f8357211c 100644
--- a/src/vmx/vmx.c
+++ b/src/vmx/vmx.c
@@ -2670,10 +2670,8 @@ virVMXParseEthernet(virConfPtr conf, int controller, virDomainNetDefPtr *def)
     /* Setup virDomainNetDef */
     if (connectionType == NULL || STRCASEEQ(connectionType, "bridged")) {
         (*def)->type = VIR_DOMAIN_NET_TYPE_BRIDGE;
-        (*def)->model = virtualDev;
         (*def)->data.bridge.brname = networkName;
 
-        virtualDev = NULL;
         networkName = NULL;
     } else if (STRCASEEQ(connectionType, "hostonly")) {
         /* FIXME */
@@ -2683,16 +2681,12 @@ virVMXParseEthernet(virConfPtr conf, int controller, virDomainNetDefPtr *def)
         goto cleanup;
     } else if (STRCASEEQ(connectionType, "nat")) {
         (*def)->type = VIR_DOMAIN_NET_TYPE_USER;
-        (*def)->model = virtualDev;
 
-        virtualDev = NULL;
     } else if (STRCASEEQ(connectionType, "custom")) {
         (*def)->type = VIR_DOMAIN_NET_TYPE_BRIDGE;
-        (*def)->model = virtualDev;
         (*def)->data.bridge.brname = networkName;
         (*def)->ifname = vnet;
 
-        virtualDev = NULL;
         networkName = NULL;
         vnet = NULL;
     } else {
@@ -2702,6 +2696,10 @@ virVMXParseEthernet(virConfPtr conf, int controller, virDomainNetDefPtr *def)
         goto cleanup;
     }
 
+    if (virDomainNetSetModelString((*def), virtualDev) < 0)
+        goto cleanup;
+    VIR_FREE(virtualDev);
+
     result = 0;
 
  cleanup:
@@ -3739,28 +3737,29 @@ virVMXFormatEthernet(virDomainNetDefPtr def, int controller,
     virBufferAsprintf(buffer, "ethernet%d.present = \"true\"\n", controller);
 
     /* def:model -> vmx:virtualDev, vmx:features */
-    if (def->model != NULL) {
-        if (STRCASENEQ(def->model, "vlance") &&
-            STRCASENEQ(def->model, "vmxnet") &&
-            STRCASENEQ(def->model, "vmxnet2") &&
-            STRCASENEQ(def->model, "vmxnet3") &&
-            STRCASENEQ(def->model, "e1000") &&
-            STRCASENEQ(def->model, "e1000e")) {
+    if (virDomainNetGetModelString(def)) {
+        if (!virDomainNetStrcaseeqModelString(def, "vlance") &&
+            !virDomainNetStrcaseeqModelString(def, "vmxnet") &&
+            !virDomainNetStrcaseeqModelString(def, "vmxnet2") &&
+            !virDomainNetStrcaseeqModelString(def, "vmxnet3") &&
+            !virDomainNetStrcaseeqModelString(def, "e1000") &&
+            !virDomainNetStrcaseeqModelString(def, "e1000e")) {
             virReportError(VIR_ERR_INTERNAL_ERROR,
                            _("Expecting domain XML entry 'devices/interface/model' "
                              "to be 'vlance' or 'vmxnet' or 'vmxnet2' or 'vmxnet3' "
-                             "or 'e1000' or 'e1000e' but found '%s'"), def->model);
+                             "or 'e1000' or 'e1000e' but found '%s'"),
+                            virDomainNetGetModelString(def));
             return -1;
         }
 
-        if (STRCASEEQ(def->model, "vmxnet2")) {
+        if (virDomainNetStrcaseeqModelString(def, "vmxnet2")) {
             virBufferAsprintf(buffer, "ethernet%d.virtualDev = \"vmxnet\"\n",
                               controller);
             virBufferAsprintf(buffer, "ethernet%d.features = \"15\"\n",
                               controller);
         } else {
             virBufferAsprintf(buffer, "ethernet%d.virtualDev = \"%s\"\n",
-                              controller, def->model);
+                              controller, virDomainNetGetModelString(def));
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/src/vz/vz_driver.c b/src/vz/vz_driver.c
index 7e9ef932dc..eab2953759 100644
--- a/src/vz/vz_driver.c
+++ b/src/vz/vz_driver.c
@@ -269,9 +269,9 @@ vzDomainDeviceDefPostParse(virDomainDeviceDefPtr dev,
     if (dev->type == VIR_DOMAIN_DEVICE_NET &&
         (dev->data.net->type == VIR_DOMAIN_NET_TYPE_NETWORK ||
          dev->data.net->type == VIR_DOMAIN_NET_TYPE_BRIDGE) &&
-        !dev->data.net->model &&
+        !virDomainNetGetModelString(dev->data.net) &&
         def->os.type == VIR_DOMAIN_OSTYPE_HVM &&
-        VIR_STRDUP(dev->data.net->model, "e1000") < 0)
+        virDomainNetSetModelString(dev->data.net, "e1000") < 0)
         return -1;
 
     return 0;
diff --git a/src/vz/vz_sdk.c b/src/vz/vz_sdk.c
index 63d013deac..60681591c6 100644
--- a/src/vz/vz_sdk.c
+++ b/src/vz/vz_sdk.c
@@ -1105,15 +1105,15 @@ prlsdkGetNetInfo(PRL_HANDLE netAdapter, virDomainNetDefPtr net, bool isCt)
 
         switch ((int)type) {
         case PNT_RTL:
-            if (VIR_STRDUP(net->model, "rtl8139") < 0)
+            if (virDomainNetSetModelString(net, "rtl8139") < 0)
                 goto cleanup;
             break;
         case PNT_E1000:
-            if (VIR_STRDUP(net->model, "e1000") < 0)
+            if (virDomainNetSetModelString(net, "e1000") < 0)
                 goto cleanup;
             break;
         case PNT_VIRTIO:
-            if (VIR_STRDUP(net->model, "virtio") < 0)
+            if (virDomainNetSetModelString(net, "virtio") < 0)
                 goto cleanup;
             break;
         default:
@@ -3378,15 +3378,15 @@ static int prlsdkConfigureNet(vzDriverPtr driver ATTRIBUTE_UNUSED,
         goto cleanup;
 
     if (isCt) {
-        if (net->model)
+        if (virDomainNetGetModelString(net))
             VIR_WARN("Setting network adapter for containers is not "
                      "supported by vz driver.");
     } else {
-        if (STREQ(net->model, "rtl8139")) {
+        if (virDomainNetStreqModelString(net, "rtl8139")) {
             pret = PrlVmDevNet_SetAdapterType(sdknet, PNT_RTL);
-        } else if (STREQ(net->model, "e1000")) {
+        } else if (virDomainNetStreqModelString(net, "e1000")) {
             pret = PrlVmDevNet_SetAdapterType(sdknet, PNT_E1000);
-        } else if (STREQ(net->model, "virtio")) {
+        } else if (virDomainNetStreqModelString(net, "virtio")) {
             pret = PrlVmDevNet_SetAdapterType(sdknet, PNT_VIRTIO);
         } else {
             virReportError(VIR_ERR_CONFIG_UNSUPPORTED, "%s",
diff --git a/src/xenconfig/xen_common.c b/src/xenconfig/xen_common.c
index 94e0703cf3..74ce8dcc69 100644
--- a/src/xenconfig/xen_common.c
+++ b/src/xenconfig/xen_common.c
@@ -1069,11 +1069,11 @@ xenParseVif(char *entry, const char *vif_typename)
         goto cleanup;
 
     if (model[0] &&
-        VIR_STRDUP(net->model, model) < 0)
+        virDomainNetSetModelString(net, model) < 0)
         goto cleanup;
 
     if (!model[0] && type[0] && STREQ(type, vif_typename) &&
-        VIR_STRDUP(net->model, "netfront") < 0)
+        virDomainNetSetModelString(net, "netfront") < 0)
         goto cleanup;
 
     if (vifname[0] &&
@@ -1422,15 +1422,16 @@ xenFormatNet(virConnectPtr conn,
         goto cleanup;
     }
 
-    if (!hvm) {
-        if (net->model != NULL)
-            virBufferAsprintf(&buf, ",model=%s", net->model);
-    } else {
-        if (net->model != NULL && STREQ(net->model, "netfront")) {
-            virBufferAsprintf(&buf, ",type=%s", vif_typename);
+    if (virDomainNetGetModelString(net)) {
+        if (!hvm) {
+            virBufferAsprintf(&buf, ",model=%s",
+                              virDomainNetGetModelString(net));
         } else {
-            if (net->model != NULL)
-                virBufferAsprintf(&buf, ",model=%s", net->model);
+            if (virDomainNetStreqModelString(net, "netfront"))
+                virBufferAsprintf(&buf, ",type=%s", vif_typename);
+            else
+                virBufferAsprintf(&buf, ",model=%s",
+                                  virDomainNetGetModelString(net));
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/src/xenconfig/xen_sxpr.c b/src/xenconfig/xen_sxpr.c
index 11af3e747a..b3bbce4e86 100644
--- a/src/xenconfig/xen_sxpr.c
+++ b/src/xenconfig/xen_sxpr.c
@@ -642,11 +642,11 @@ xenParseSxprNets(virDomainDefPtr def,
                 }
             }
 
-            if (VIR_STRDUP(net->model, model) < 0)
+            if (virDomainNetSetModelString(net, model) < 0)
                 goto cleanup;
 
             if (!model && type && STREQ(type, "netfront") &&
-                VIR_STRDUP(net->model, "netfront") < 0)
+                virDomainNetSetModelString(net, "netfront") < 0)
                 goto cleanup;
 
             tmp = sexpr_node(node, "device/vif/rate");
@@ -1935,15 +1935,16 @@ xenFormatSxprNet(virConnectPtr conn,
         !STRPREFIX(def->ifname, "vif"))
         virBufferEscapeSexpr(buf, "(vifname '%s')", def->ifname);
 
-    if (!hvm) {
-        if (def->model != NULL)
-            virBufferEscapeSexpr(buf, "(model '%s')", def->model);
-    } else {
-        if (def->model != NULL && STREQ(def->model, "netfront")) {
-            virBufferAddLit(buf, "(type netfront)");
+    if (virDomainNetGetModelString(def)) {
+        if (!hvm) {
+            virBufferEscapeSexpr(buf, "(model '%s')",
+                                 virDomainNetGetModelString(def));
         } else {
-            if (def->model != NULL)
-                virBufferEscapeSexpr(buf, "(model '%s')", def->model);
+            if (virDomainNetStreqModelString(def, "netfront"))
+                virBufferAddLit(buf, "(type netfront)");
+            else
+                virBufferEscapeSexpr(buf, "(model '%s')",
+                                     virDomainNetGetModelString(def));
         }
     }
 
