diff --git a/nova/tests/unit/virt/libvirt/test_driver.py b/nova/tests/unit/virt/libvirt/test_driver.py
index c8a2f4c8bf2f..044c8fb013d5 100644
--- a/nova/tests/unit/virt/libvirt/test_driver.py
+++ b/nova/tests/unit/virt/libvirt/test_driver.py
@@ -9251,12 +9251,13 @@ class LibvirtConnTestCase(test.NoDBTestCase,
                                             image_meta)
         cfg = drvr._get_guest_config(instance_ref, [],
                                      image_meta, disk_info)
-        no_exist = True
+        mem_balloon = None
         for device in cfg.devices:
             if device.root_name == 'memballoon':
-                no_exist = False
+                mem_balloon = device
                 break
-        self.assertTrue(no_exist)
+        self.assertIsNotNone(mem_balloon)
+        self.assertEqual('none', mem_balloon.model)
 
     def test_get_guest_memory_balloon_config_period_value(self):
         self.flags(mem_stats_period_seconds=21, group='libvirt')
diff --git a/nova/virt/libvirt/driver.py b/nova/virt/libvirt/driver.py
index 0aa135d6fb24..c06142f9ba01 100644
--- a/nova/virt/libvirt/driver.py
+++ b/nova/virt/libvirt/driver.py
@@ -7761,14 +7761,16 @@ class LibvirtDriver(driver.ComputeDriver):
     @staticmethod
     def _guest_add_memory_balloon(guest):
         # Memory balloon device only support 'qemu/kvm' hypervisor
-        if (
-            CONF.libvirt.virt_type in ('qemu', 'kvm') and
-            CONF.libvirt.mem_stats_period_seconds > 0
-        ):
-            balloon = vconfig.LibvirtConfigMemoryBalloon()
-            balloon.model = 'virtio'
-            balloon.period = CONF.libvirt.mem_stats_period_seconds
-            guest.add_device(balloon)
+        if CONF.libvirt.virt_type in ('qemu', 'kvm'):
+            if CONF.libvirt.mem_stats_period_seconds > 0:
+                balloon = vconfig.LibvirtConfigMemoryBalloon()
+                balloon.model = 'virtio'
+                balloon.period = CONF.libvirt.mem_stats_period_seconds
+                guest.add_device(balloon)
+            else:
+                balloon = vconfig.LibvirtConfigMemoryBalloon()
+                balloon.model = 'none'
+                guest.add_device(balloon)
 
     @staticmethod
     def _guest_add_watchdog_action(guest, flavor, image_meta):