diff --git a/virtcontainers/qemu_arch_base.go b/virtcontainers/qemu_arch_base.go
index 3157ef56e3..1ca28c79d1 100644
--- a/virtcontainers/qemu_arch_base.go
+++ b/virtcontainers/qemu_arch_base.go
@@ -320,6 +320,7 @@ 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/virtcontainers/qemu_arch_base_test.go b/virtcontainers/qemu_arch_base_test.go
index 371154e892..06c38294ef 100644
--- a/virtcontainers/qemu_arch_base_test.go
+++ b/virtcontainers/qemu_arch_base_test.go
@@ -264,8 +264,9 @@ 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,