diff --git a/hw/ne2000.c b/hw/ne2000.c
index 200db90..a85730f 100644
--- a/hw/ne2000.c
+++ b/hw/ne2000.c
@@ -722,6 +722,8 @@
 {
     NE2000State *s;
 
+    qemu_check_nic_model(nd, "ne2k_isa");
+
     s = qemu_mallocz(sizeof(NE2000State));
     if (!s)
         return;