diff --git a/docs/qapi-code-gen.txt b/docs/qapi-code-gen.txt
index 70fdae7..4e331a0 100644
--- a/docs/qapi-code-gen.txt
+++ b/docs/qapi-code-gen.txt
@@ -471,7 +471,7 @@
 type-safe unions.  For an example of bypass usage:
 
  { 'command': 'netdev_add',
-   'data': {'type': 'str', 'id': 'str', '*props': '**'},
+   'data': {'type': 'str', 'id': 'str'},
    'gen': false }
 
 Normally, the QAPI schema is used to describe synchronous exchanges,
diff --git a/qapi-schema.json b/qapi-schema.json
index 756ed9e..3ff9fec 100644
--- a/qapi-schema.json
+++ b/qapi-schema.json
@@ -2079,11 +2079,12 @@
 #
 # @id: the name of the new network backend
 #
-# @props: #optional a list of properties to be passed to the backend in
-#         the format 'name=value', like 'ifname=tap0,script=no'
+# Additional arguments depend on the type.
 #
-# Notes: The semantics of @props is not well defined.  Future commands will be
-#        introduced that provide stronger typing for backend creation.
+# TODO This command effectively bypasses QAPI completely due to its
+# "additional arguments" business.  It shouldn't have been added to
+# the schema in this form.  It should be qapified properly, or
+# replaced by a properly qapified command.
 #
 # Since: 0.14.0
 #
@@ -2091,8 +2092,8 @@
 #          If @type is not a valid network backend, DeviceNotFound
 ##
 { 'command': 'netdev_add',
-  'data': {'type': 'str', 'id': 'str', '*props': '**'},
-  'gen': false }
+  'data': {'type': 'str', 'id': 'str'},
+  'gen': false }                # so we can get the additional arguments
 
 ##
 # @netdev_del:
diff --git a/qmp-commands.hx b/qmp-commands.hx
index 7c74e20..5a54406 100644
--- a/qmp-commands.hx
+++ b/qmp-commands.hx
@@ -917,7 +917,9 @@
 
 Example:
 
--> { "execute": "netdev_add", "arguments": { "type": "user", "id": "netdev1" } }
+-> { "execute": "netdev_add",
+     "arguments": { "type": "user", "id": "netdev1",
+                    "dnssearch": "example.org" } }
 <- { "return": {} }
 
 Note: The supported device options are the same ones supported by the '-netdev'