diff --git a/lxd/devices.go b/lxd/devices.go
index 996afa2937dd..b501e27471ea 100644
--- a/lxd/devices.go
+++ b/lxd/devices.go
@@ -467,6 +467,10 @@ func deviceTaskBalance(s *state.State) {
 	balancedInstances := map[instance.Instance]int{}
 	for _, c := range instances {
 		conf := c.ExpandedConfig()
+		if c.Type() == instancetype.VM && conf["limits.cpu.pin_strategy"] == "none" {
+			continue
+		}
+
 		cpuNodes := conf["limits.cpu.nodes"]
 		var numaCpus []int64
 		if cpuNodes != "" {