diff --git a/qemu-config.c b/qemu-config.c
index 31e7d61..cf4aee8 100644
--- a/qemu-config.c
+++ b/qemu-config.c
@@ -151,10 +151,23 @@ QemuOptsList qemu_device_opts = {
     },
 };
 
+QemuOptsList qemu_net_opts = {
+    .name = "net",
+    .head = QTAILQ_HEAD_INITIALIZER(qemu_net_opts.head),
+    .desc = {
+        /*
+         * no elements => accept any params
+         * validation will happen later
+         */
+        { /* end if list */ }
+    },
+};
+
 static QemuOptsList *lists[] = {
     &qemu_drive_opts,
     &qemu_chardev_opts,
     &qemu_device_opts,
+    &qemu_net_opts,
     NULL,
 };
 
diff --git a/qemu-config.h b/qemu-config.h
index 13b0f19..852fe52 100644
--- a/qemu-config.h
+++ b/qemu-config.h
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 extern QemuOptsList qemu_drive_opts;
 extern QemuOptsList qemu_chardev_opts;
 extern QemuOptsList qemu_device_opts;
+extern QemuOptsList qemu_net_opts;
 
 int qemu_set_option(const char *str);