diff --git a/lxd/instance/instance_utils.go b/lxd/instance/instance_utils.go
index 03d6a6da1241..da46d095a23e 100644
--- a/lxd/instance/instance_utils.go
+++ b/lxd/instance/instance_utils.go
@@ -693,6 +693,10 @@ func CreateInternal(s *state.State, args db.InstanceArgs, clearLogDir bool) (Ins
 
 	args.Config["volatile.uuid.generation"] = args.Config["volatile.uuid"]
 
+	if args.Type == instancetype.VM && args.Config["limits.cpu.pin_strategy"] == "" {
+		args.Config["limits.cpu.pin_strategy"] = "none"
+	}
+
 	if args.Devices == nil {
 		args.Devices = deviceConfig.Devices{}
 	}