diff --git a/src/fu-device.c b/src/fu-device.c
index 773fdaf3e..439f3fb85 100644
--- a/src/fu-device.c
+++ b/src/fu-device.c
@@ -562,6 +562,10 @@ fu_device_set_quirk_kv (FuDevice *device,
 		return TRUE;
 	}
 
+	/* optional device-specific method */
+	if (klass->set_quirk_kv != NULL)
+		return klass->set_quirk_kv (device, key, value, error);
+
 	/* failed */
 	g_set_error_literal (error,
 			     G_IO_ERROR,
diff --git a/src/fu-device.h b/src/fu-device.h
index 6862a0750..c43484af0 100644
--- a/src/fu-device.h
+++ b/src/fu-device.h
@@ -40,8 +40,12 @@ struct _FuDeviceClass
 	GBytes			*(*prepare_firmware)	(FuDevice	*device,
 							 GBytes		*fw,
 							 GError		**error);
+	gboolean		 (*set_quirk_kv)	(FuDevice	*device,
+							 const gchar	*key,
+							 const gchar	*value,
+							 GError		**error);
 	/*< private >*/
-	gpointer	padding[24];
+	gpointer	padding[23];
 };
 
 /**