diff --git a/tests/clitest.py b/tests/clitest.py
index beef8fd7a..1ee547d58 100644
--- a/tests/clitest.py
+++ b/tests/clitest.py
@@ -641,9 +641,9 @@ source.reservations.managed=no,source.reservations.source.type=unix,source.reser
 --input tablet
 --input mouse
 
---serial tcp,host=:2222,mode=bind,protocol=telnet,log.file=/tmp/foo.log,log.append=yes,,target.model.name=pci-serial
+--serial char_type=tcp,host=:2222,mode=bind,protocol=telnet,log.file=/tmp/foo.log,log.append=yes,,target.model.name=pci-serial
 --serial nmdm,source.master=/dev/foo1,source.slave=/dev/foo2,alias.name=testalias7
---parallel udp,host=0.0.0.0:1234,bind_host=127.0.0.1:1234
+--parallel type=udp,host=0.0.0.0:1234,bind_host=127.0.0.1:1234
 --parallel udp,source.connect_host=127.0.0.2,source.connect_service=8888,source.bind_host=127.0.0.1,source.bind_service=7777
 --parallel unix,path=/tmp/foo-socket,source.seclabel0.model=none,source.seclabel1.model=dac,source.seclabel1.relabel=yes,source.seclabel1.label=foobar,source.seclabel.relabel=no
 --channel pty,target_type=guestfwd,target_address=127.0.0.1:10000
diff --git a/virtinst/cli.py b/virtinst/cli.py
index 274df5f2d..769447dd5 100644
--- a/virtinst/cli.py
+++ b/virtinst/cli.py
@@ -3836,9 +3836,10 @@ class ParserVsock(VirtCLIParser):
 ######################################################
 
 class _ParserChar(VirtCLIParser):
-    remove_first = "char_type"
+    remove_first = "type"
     stub_none = False
     aliases = {
+        "type": "char_type",
         "protocol.type": "protocol",
 
         "target.address": "target_address",
@@ -3893,7 +3894,7 @@ class _ParserChar(VirtCLIParser):
         VirtCLIParser._init_class(**kwargs)
         _add_common_device_args(cls)
 
-        cls.add_arg("char_type", "type")
+        cls.add_arg("type", "type")
 
         # These are handled in _add_advertised_aliases
         cls.add_arg("path", "source.path", cb=cls.noset_cb)