diff --git a/src/vnet/devices/virtio/cli.c b/src/vnet/devices/virtio/cli.c
index 10b545e..86639e4 100644
--- a/src/vnet/devices/virtio/cli.c
+++ b/src/vnet/devices/virtio/cli.c
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@
     return clib_error_return (0,
 			      "please specify interface name or sw_if_index");
 
-  hw = vnet_get_sup_hw_interface (vnm, sw_if_index);
+  hw = vnet_get_sup_hw_interface_api_visible_or_null (vnm, sw_if_index);
   if (hw == NULL || virtio_device_class.index != hw->dev_class_index)
     return clib_error_return (0, "not a virtio interface");