diff --git a/src/dev/virtio/VirtIO.py b/src/dev/virtio/VirtIO.py
index b0ddb0e23b..93c31c6f21 100644
--- a/src/dev/virtio/VirtIO.py
+++ b/src/dev/virtio/VirtIO.py
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ class VirtIODeviceBase(SimObject):
     subsystem = Param.UInt8(0x00, "VirtIO subsystem ID")
 
     system = Param.System(Parent.any, "system object")
-    byte_order = Param.ByteOrder(Parent.byte_order, "Device byte order")
+    byte_order = Param.ByteOrder('little', "Device byte order")
 
 class VirtIODummyDevice(VirtIODeviceBase):
     type = 'VirtIODummyDevice'