diff --git a/hw/core/machine.c b/hw/core/machine.c
index 84ebb8d247..ea5a01aa49 100644
--- a/hw/core/machine.c
+++ b/hw/core/machine.c
@@ -24,16 +24,13 @@
 #include "hw/pci/pci.h"
 #include "hw/mem/nvdimm.h"
 
-GlobalProperty hw_compat_4_0_1[] = {
+GlobalProperty hw_compat_4_0[] = {
     { "VGA",            "edid", "false" },
     { "secondary-vga",  "edid", "false" },
     { "bochs-display",  "edid", "false" },
     { "virtio-vga",     "edid", "false" },
     { "virtio-gpu-pci", "edid", "false" },
 };
-const size_t hw_compat_4_0_1_len = G_N_ELEMENTS(hw_compat_4_0_1);
-
-GlobalProperty hw_compat_4_0[] = {};
 const size_t hw_compat_4_0_len = G_N_ELEMENTS(hw_compat_4_0);
 
 GlobalProperty hw_compat_3_1[] = {
diff --git a/hw/i386/pc.c b/hw/i386/pc.c
index e41192becd..e96360b47a 100644
--- a/hw/i386/pc.c
+++ b/hw/i386/pc.c
@@ -111,9 +111,6 @@ struct hpet_fw_config hpet_cfg = {.count = UINT8_MAX};
 /* Physical Address of PVH entry point read from kernel ELF NOTE */
 static size_t pvh_start_addr;
 
-GlobalProperty pc_compat_4_0_1[] = {};
-const size_t pc_compat_4_0_1_len = G_N_ELEMENTS(pc_compat_4_0_1);
-
 GlobalProperty pc_compat_4_0[] = {};
 const size_t pc_compat_4_0_len = G_N_ELEMENTS(pc_compat_4_0);
 
diff --git a/hw/i386/pc_q35.c b/hw/i386/pc_q35.c
index dcddc64662..57232aed6b 100644
--- a/hw/i386/pc_q35.c
+++ b/hw/i386/pc_q35.c
@@ -378,8 +378,13 @@ static void pc_q35_4_0_1_machine_options(MachineClass *m)
 {
     pc_q35_4_1_machine_options(m);
     m->alias = NULL;
-    compat_props_add(m->compat_props, hw_compat_4_0_1, hw_compat_4_0_1_len);
-    compat_props_add(m->compat_props, pc_compat_4_0_1, pc_compat_4_0_1_len);
+    /*
+     * This is the default machine for the 4.0-stable branch. It is basically
+     * a 4.0 that doesn't use split irqchip by default. It MUST hence apply the
+     * 4.0 compat props.
+     */
+    compat_props_add(m->compat_props, hw_compat_4_0, hw_compat_4_0_len);
+    compat_props_add(m->compat_props, pc_compat_4_0, pc_compat_4_0_len);
 }
 
 DEFINE_Q35_MACHINE(v4_0_1, "pc-q35-4.0.1", NULL,
@@ -390,8 +395,7 @@ static void pc_q35_4_0_machine_options(MachineClass *m)
     pc_q35_4_0_1_machine_options(m);
     m->default_kernel_irqchip_split = true;
     m->alias = NULL;
-    compat_props_add(m->compat_props, hw_compat_4_0, hw_compat_4_0_len);
-    compat_props_add(m->compat_props, pc_compat_4_0, pc_compat_4_0_len);
+    /* Compat props are applied by the 4.0.1 machine */
 }
 
 DEFINE_Q35_MACHINE(v4_0, "pc-q35-4.0", NULL,
diff --git a/include/hw/boards.h b/include/hw/boards.h
index b7362af3f1..eaa050a7ab 100644
--- a/include/hw/boards.h
+++ b/include/hw/boards.h
@@ -293,9 +293,6 @@ struct MachineState {
     } \
     type_init(machine_initfn##_register_types)
 
-extern GlobalProperty hw_compat_4_0_1[];
-extern const size_t hw_compat_4_0_1_len;
-
 extern GlobalProperty hw_compat_4_0[];
 extern const size_t hw_compat_4_0_len;
 
diff --git a/include/hw/i386/pc.h b/include/hw/i386/pc.h
index a7d0b87166..c54cc54a47 100644
--- a/include/hw/i386/pc.h
+++ b/include/hw/i386/pc.h
@@ -293,9 +293,6 @@ int e820_add_entry(uint64_t, uint64_t, uint32_t);
 int e820_get_num_entries(void);
 bool e820_get_entry(int, uint32_t, uint64_t *, uint64_t *);
 
-extern GlobalProperty pc_compat_4_0_1[];
-extern const size_t pc_compat_4_0_1_len;
-
 extern GlobalProperty pc_compat_4_0[];
 extern const size_t pc_compat_4_0_len;