diff --git a/src/runtime/virtcontainers/qemu_arch_base.go b/src/runtime/virtcontainers/qemu_arch_base.go
index ba1f66b52a..a6c83a1f10 100644
--- a/src/runtime/virtcontainers/qemu_arch_base.go
+++ b/src/runtime/virtcontainers/qemu_arch_base.go
@@ -308,6 +308,7 @@ func (q *qemuArchBase) appendConsole(devices []govmmQemu.Device, path string) ([
 		Driver:        govmmQemu.VirtioSerial,
 		ID:            "serial0",
 		DisableModern: q.nestedRun,
+		MaxPorts:      uint(2),
 	}
 
 	devices = append(devices, serial)
diff --git a/src/runtime/virtcontainers/qemu_arch_base_test.go b/src/runtime/virtcontainers/qemu_arch_base_test.go
index d4a3b345a2..1204545d21 100644
--- a/src/runtime/virtcontainers/qemu_arch_base_test.go
+++ b/src/runtime/virtcontainers/qemu_arch_base_test.go
@@ -240,8 +240,9 @@ func TestQemuArchBaseAppendConsoles(t *testing.T) {
 
 	expectedOut := []govmmQemu.Device{
 		govmmQemu.SerialDevice{
-			Driver: govmmQemu.VirtioSerial,
-			ID:     "serial0",
+			Driver:   govmmQemu.VirtioSerial,
+			ID:       "serial0",
+			MaxPorts: uint(2),
 		},
 		govmmQemu.CharDevice{
 			Driver:   govmmQemu.Console,