diff --git a/nova/tests/unit/virt/libvirt/test_config.py b/nova/tests/unit/virt/libvirt/test_config.py
index 1cc39c29b7b4..2fa19e0a38e3 100644
--- a/nova/tests/unit/virt/libvirt/test_config.py
+++ b/nova/tests/unit/virt/libvirt/test_config.py
@@ -1836,6 +1836,7 @@ class LibvirtConfigGuestInterfaceTest(LibvirtConfigBaseTest):
         obj.mac_addr = "DE:AD:BE:EF:CA:FE"
         obj.model = "virtio"
         obj.target_dev = "vnet0"
+        self.assertTrue(obj.uses_virtio)
         return obj
 
     def test_config_driver_options(self):
@@ -2859,6 +2860,8 @@ class LibvirtConfigGuestSnapshotTest(LibvirtConfigBaseTest):
         obj.target_bus = "virtio"
         obj.serial = "7a97c4a3-6f59-41d4-bf47-191d7f97f8e9"
 
+        self.assertTrue(obj.uses_virtio)
+
         xml = obj.to_xml()
         self.assertXmlEqual("""
             <disk type="file" device="disk">
@@ -3265,6 +3268,8 @@ class LibvirtConfigGuestVideoTest(LibvirtConfigBaseTest):
         obj = config.LibvirtConfigGuestVideo()
         obj.type = 'qxl'
 
+        self.assertFalse(obj.uses_virtio)
+
         xml = obj.to_xml()
         self.assertXmlEqual(xml, """
                 <video>
@@ -3333,6 +3338,8 @@ class LibvirtConfigGuestRngTest(LibvirtConfigBaseTest):
         obj = config.LibvirtConfigGuestRng()
         obj.driver_iommu = True
 
+        self.assertTrue(obj.uses_virtio)
+
         xml = obj.to_xml()
         self.assertXmlEqual(xml, """
             <rng model='virtio'>
@@ -3667,12 +3674,12 @@ class LibvirtConfigMemoryBalloonTest(LibvirtConfigBaseTest):
 
     def test_config_memory_balloon_period(self):
         balloon = config.LibvirtConfigMemoryBalloon()
-        balloon.model = 'fake_virtio'
+        balloon.model = 'virtio'
         balloon.period = 11
 
         xml = balloon.to_xml()
         expected_xml = """
-        <memballoon model='fake_virtio'>
+        <memballoon model='virtio'>
             <stats period='11'/>
         </memballoon>"""
 
@@ -3680,22 +3687,24 @@ class LibvirtConfigMemoryBalloonTest(LibvirtConfigBaseTest):
 
     def test_config_memory_balloon_no_period(self):
         balloon = config.LibvirtConfigMemoryBalloon()
-        balloon.model = 'fake_virtio'
+        balloon.model = 'virtio'
 
         xml = balloon.to_xml()
         expected_xml = """
-        <memballoon model='fake_virtio' />"""
+        <memballoon model='virtio' />"""
 
         self.assertXmlEqual(expected_xml, xml)
 
     def test_config_memory_balloon_driver_iommu(self):
         balloon = config.LibvirtConfigMemoryBalloon()
-        balloon.model = 'fake_virtio'
+        balloon.model = 'virtio'
         balloon.driver_iommu = True
 
+        self.assertTrue(balloon.uses_virtio)
+
         xml = balloon.to_xml()
         expected_xml = """
-            <memballoon model='fake_virtio'>
+            <memballoon model='virtio'>
               <driver iommu="on" />
             </memballoon>"""
 
diff --git a/nova/virt/libvirt/config.py b/nova/virt/libvirt/config.py
index b67b112cc8ec..99ed468ddaee 100644
--- a/nova/virt/libvirt/config.py
+++ b/nova/virt/libvirt/config.py
@@ -875,6 +875,10 @@ class LibvirtConfigGuestDevice(LibvirtConfigObject):
     def __init__(self, **kwargs):
         super(LibvirtConfigGuestDevice, self).__init__(**kwargs)
 
+    @property
+    def uses_virtio(self):
+        return False
+
 
 class LibvirtConfigGuestDisk(LibvirtConfigGuestDevice):
 
@@ -984,6 +988,10 @@ class LibvirtConfigGuestDisk(LibvirtConfigGuestDevice):
         if len(iotune) > 0:
             dev.append(iotune)
 
+    @property
+    def uses_virtio(self):
+        return 'virtio' == self.target_bus
+
     def format_dom(self):
         dev = super(LibvirtConfigGuestDisk, self).format_dom()
 
@@ -1573,6 +1581,10 @@ class LibvirtConfigGuestInterface(LibvirtConfigGuestDevice):
         self.device_addr = None
         self.mtu = None
 
+    @property
+    def uses_virtio(self):
+        return 'virtio' == self.model
+
     def format_dom(self):
         dev = super(LibvirtConfigGuestInterface, self).format_dom()
 
@@ -1890,6 +1902,10 @@ class LibvirtConfigMemoryBalloon(LibvirtConfigGuestDevice):
         self.period = None
         self.driver_iommu = False
 
+    @property
+    def uses_virtio(self):
+        return 'virtio' == self.model
+
     def format_dom(self):
         dev = super(LibvirtConfigMemoryBalloon, self).format_dom()
         dev.set('model', str(self.model))
@@ -3016,6 +3032,10 @@ class LibvirtConfigGuestRng(LibvirtConfigGuestDevice):
         self.rate_bytes = None
         self.driver_iommu = False
 
+    @property
+    def uses_virtio(self):
+        return 'virtio' == self.device_model
+
     def format_dom(self):
         dev = super(LibvirtConfigGuestRng, self).format_dom()
         dev.set('model', self.device_model)
diff --git a/nova/virt/libvirt/designer.py b/nova/virt/libvirt/designer.py
index 793f1f17cdb1..7bafd47bbcbd 100644
--- a/nova/virt/libvirt/designer.py
+++ b/nova/virt/libvirt/designer.py
@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@ classes based on common operational needs / policies
 
 
 from nova.pci import utils as pci_utils
-from nova.virt.libvirt import config
 
 MIN_LIBVIRT_ETHERNET_SCRIPT_PATH_NONE = (1, 3, 3)
 
@@ -200,14 +199,6 @@ def set_vcpu_realtime_scheduler(conf, vcpus_rt, priority):
 
 
 def set_driver_iommu_for_sev(conf):
-    virtio_attrs = {
-        config.LibvirtConfigGuestDisk: 'target_bus',
-        config.LibvirtConfigGuestInterface: 'model',
-        config.LibvirtConfigGuestRng: 'device_model',
-        config.LibvirtConfigMemoryBalloon: 'model',
-    }
-
     for dev in conf.devices:
-        virtio_attr = virtio_attrs.get(dev.__class__)
-        if virtio_attr and getattr(dev, virtio_attr) == 'virtio':
+        if dev.uses_virtio:
             dev.driver_iommu = True