diff --git a/virtio-def/src/pci.rs b/virtio-def/src/pci.rs
index f348377778..1b4cf040bc 100644
--- a/virtio-def/src/pci.rs
+++ b/virtio-def/src/pci.rs
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ pub struct CommonCfg {
 
     /// The driver writes the device status here (see [`DeviceStatus`]). Writing 0 into this
     /// field resets the device.
-    device_status: DeviceStatus,
+    pub device_status: DeviceStatus,
 
     /// Configuration atomicity value.  The device changes this every time the
     /// configuration noticeably changes.