diff --git a/virttest/libvirt_xml/vm_xml.py b/virttest/libvirt_xml/vm_xml.py
index f76334bfe5..51792a72b8 100755
--- a/virttest/libvirt_xml/vm_xml.py
+++ b/virttest/libvirt_xml/vm_xml.py
@@ -3607,6 +3607,7 @@ def __init__(self, virsh_instance=base.virsh):
                                    attribute='enabled')
             super(VMPerfXML.EventXML, self).__init__(
                 virsh_instance=virsh_instance)
+            self.xml = '<event/>'
 
         def update(self, attr_dict):
             for attr, value in list(attr_dict.items()):