diff --git a/nixos/lib/test-driver/Machine.pm b/nixos/lib/test-driver/Machine.pm
index 006da889671..5e4c14e749f 100644
--- a/nixos/lib/test-driver/Machine.pm
+++ b/nixos/lib/test-driver/Machine.pm
@@ -31,9 +31,12 @@ sub new {
 
     if (!$startCommand) {
         # !!! merge with qemu-vm.nix.
+        my $netArgs = "";
+        $netArgs .= ",romfile=$args->{netRomFile}"
+            if defined $args->{netRomFile};
         $startCommand =
             "qemu-kvm -m 384 " .
-            "-net nic,model=virtio \$QEMU_OPTS ";
+            "-device virtio-net-pci,netdev=net0${netArgs} \$QEMU_OPTS ";
 
         if (defined $args->{hda}) {
             if ($args->{hdaInterface} eq "scsi") {