diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index bdceb16cf0..d362b9027b 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -1386,14 +1386,6 @@ endif
 
 util_dep = cc.find_library('util', required: false)
 
-if not get_option('virtualport').disabled()
-  if cc.has_header_symbol('linux/if_link.h', 'IFLA_PORT_MAX')
-    conf.set('WITH_VIRTUALPORT', 1)
-  elif get_option('virtualport').enabled()
-    error('Installed linux headers don\'t show support for virtual port support.')
-  endif
-endif
-
 if host_machine.system() == 'windows'
   ole32_dep = cc.find_library('ole32')
   oleaut32_dep = cc.find_library('oleaut32')
diff --git a/meson_options.txt b/meson_options.txt
index 74de064384..ddd90916c8 100644
--- a/meson_options.txt
+++ b/meson_options.txt
@@ -39,7 +39,6 @@ option('sasl', type: 'feature', value: 'auto', description: 'sasl support')
 option('selinux', type: 'feature', value: 'auto', description: 'selinux support')
 option('selinux_mount', type: 'string', value: '', description: 'set SELinux mount point')
 option('udev', type: 'feature', value: 'auto', description: 'udev support')
-option('virtualport', type: 'feature', value: 'auto', description: 'enable virtual port support')
 option('wireshark_dissector', type: 'feature', value: 'auto', description: 'wireshark support')
 option('wireshark_plugindir', type: 'string', value: '', description: 'wireshark plugins directory for use when installing wireshark plugin')
 option('yajl', type: 'feature', value: 'auto', description: 'yajl support')
diff --git a/src/util/virnetdevvportprofile.c b/src/util/virnetdevvportprofile.c
index 020683fa04..5dae8aa57d 100644
--- a/src/util/virnetdevvportprofile.c
+++ b/src/util/virnetdevvportprofile.c
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ VIR_ENUM_IMPL(virNetDevVPortProfileOp,
               "no-op",
 );
 
-#if WITH_VIRTUALPORT
+#if defined(WITH_LIBNL)
 
 # include <fcntl.h>
 
@@ -454,7 +454,7 @@ int virNetDevVPortProfileMerge3(virNetDevVPortProfilePtr *result,
 }
 
 
-#if WITH_VIRTUALPORT
+#if defined(WITH_LIBNL)
 
 static struct nla_policy ifla_port_policy[IFLA_PORT_MAX + 1] =
 {
@@ -1343,7 +1343,7 @@ virNetDevVPortProfileDisassociate(const char *macvtap_ifname,
     return rc;
 }
 
-#else /* ! WITH_VIRTUALPORT */
+#else /* !WITH_LIBNL */
 int virNetDevVPortProfileAssociate(const char *macvtap_ifname G_GNUC_UNUSED,
                                    const virNetDevVPortProfile *virtPort G_GNUC_UNUSED,
                                    const virMacAddr *macvtap_macaddr G_GNUC_UNUSED,
@@ -1369,4 +1369,4 @@ int virNetDevVPortProfileDisassociate(const char *macvtap_ifname G_GNUC_UNUSED,
                          _("Virtual port profile association not supported on this platform"));
     return -1;
 }
-#endif /* ! WITH_VIRTUALPORT */
+#endif /* !WITH_LIBNL */
diff --git a/tools/virsh.c b/tools/virsh.c
index ac9b7ad238..954778b626 100644
--- a/tools/virsh.c
+++ b/tools/virsh.c
@@ -548,9 +548,6 @@ virshShowVersion(vshControl *ctl G_GNUC_UNUSED)
 #endif
 #ifdef WITH_NWFILTER
     vshPrint(ctl, " Nwfilter");
-#endif
-#ifdef WITH_VIRTUALPORT
-    vshPrint(ctl, " VirtualPort");
 #endif
     vshPrint(ctl, "\n");