diff --git a/src/runtime/pkg/govmm/qemu/qemu.go b/src/runtime/pkg/govmm/qemu/qemu.go
index 37ed258a39..e752f81814 100644
--- a/src/runtime/pkg/govmm/qemu/qemu.go
+++ b/src/runtime/pkg/govmm/qemu/qemu.go
@@ -2714,9 +2714,6 @@ type Knobs struct {
 	// Prevents QEMU from rebooting in the event of a Triple Fault.
 	NoReboot bool
 
-	// Don’t exit QEMU on guest shutdown, but instead only stop the emulation.
-	NoShutdown bool
-
 	// IOMMUPlatform will enable IOMMU for supported devices
 	IOMMUPlatform bool
 }
@@ -3118,10 +3115,6 @@ func (config *Config) appendKnobs() {
 		config.qemuParams = append(config.qemuParams, "--no-reboot")
 	}
 
-	if config.Knobs.NoShutdown {
-		config.qemuParams = append(config.qemuParams, "--no-shutdown")
-	}
-
 	config.appendMemoryKnobs()
 
 	if config.Knobs.Mlock {