diff --git a/plugins/vli/fu-vli-device.c b/plugins/vli/fu-vli-device.c
index 6a9c9a7f4..ded0daf4e 100644
--- a/plugins/vli/fu-vli-device.c
+++ b/plugins/vli/fu-vli-device.c
@@ -474,11 +474,16 @@ fu_vli_device_get_offset (FuVliDevice *self)
 static void
 fu_vli_device_to_string (FuDevice *device, guint idt, GString *str)
 {
-	FuVliDeviceClass *klass = FU_VLI_DEVICE_GET_CLASS (device);
 	FuVliDevice *self = FU_VLI_DEVICE (device);
 	FuVliDevicePrivate *priv = GET_PRIVATE (self);
-	fu_common_string_append_kv (str, idt, "DeviceKind",
-				    fu_vli_common_device_kind_to_string (priv->kind));
+
+	/* parent */
+	FU_DEVICE_CLASS (fu_vli_device_parent_class)->to_string (device, idt, str);
+
+	if (priv->kind != FU_VLI_DEVICE_KIND_UNKNOWN) {
+		fu_common_string_append_kv (str, idt, "DeviceKind",
+					    fu_vli_common_device_kind_to_string (priv->kind));
+	}
 	fu_common_string_append_kb (str, idt, "SpiAutoDetect", priv->spi_auto_detect);
 	if (priv->flash_id != 0x0) {
 		g_autofree gchar *tmp = fu_vli_device_get_flash_id_str (self);
@@ -489,10 +494,6 @@ fu_vli_device_to_string (FuDevice *device, guint idt, GString *str)
 					    fu_vli_device_spi_req_to_string (i),
 					    priv->spi_cmds[i]);
 	}
-
-	/* subclassed further */
-	if (klass->to_string != NULL)
-		return klass->to_string (self, idt, str);
 }
 
 static gboolean
diff --git a/plugins/vli/fu-vli-device.h b/plugins/vli/fu-vli-device.h
index 8de2c9aae..0446bbfb4 100644
--- a/plugins/vli/fu-vli-device.h
+++ b/plugins/vli/fu-vli-device.h
@@ -18,9 +18,6 @@ struct _FuVliDeviceClass
 	FuUsbDeviceClass	parent_class;
 	gboolean		 (*setup)		(FuVliDevice	*self,
 							 GError		**error);
-	void			 (*to_string)		(FuVliDevice	*self,
-							 guint		 idt,
-							 GString 	*str);
 	gboolean		 (*spi_chip_erase)	(FuVliDevice	*self,
 							 GError		**error);
 	gboolean		 (*spi_sector_erase)	(FuVliDevice	*self,
diff --git a/plugins/vli/fu-vli-usbhub-device.c b/plugins/vli/fu-vli-usbhub-device.c
index 25aff3de3..e07167186 100644
--- a/plugins/vli/fu-vli-usbhub-device.c
+++ b/plugins/vli/fu-vli-usbhub-device.c
@@ -29,9 +29,13 @@ struct _FuVliUsbhubDevice
 G_DEFINE_TYPE (FuVliUsbhubDevice, fu_vli_usbhub_device, FU_TYPE_VLI_DEVICE)
 
 static void
-fu_vli_usbhub_device_to_string (FuVliDevice *device, guint idt, GString *str)
+fu_vli_usbhub_device_to_string (FuDevice *device, guint idt, GString *str)
 {
 	FuVliUsbhubDevice *self = FU_VLI_USBHUB_DEVICE (device);
+
+	/* parent */
+	FU_DEVICE_CLASS (fu_vli_usbhub_device_parent_class)->to_string (device, idt, str);
+
 	fu_common_string_append_kb (str, idt, "DisablePowersave", self->disable_powersave);
 	fu_common_string_append_kx (str, idt, "UpdateProtocol", self->update_protocol);
 	if (self->update_protocol >= 0x2) {
@@ -997,7 +1001,7 @@ fu_vli_usbhub_device_class_init (FuVliUsbhubDeviceClass *klass)
 	klass_device->write_firmware = fu_vli_usbhub_device_write_firmware;
 	klass_device->prepare_firmware = fu_vli_usbhub_device_prepare_firmware;
 	klass_device->attach = fu_vli_usbhub_device_attach;
-	klass_vli_device->to_string = fu_vli_usbhub_device_to_string;
+	klass_device->to_string = fu_vli_usbhub_device_to_string;
 	klass_vli_device->setup = fu_vli_usbhub_device_setup;
 	klass_vli_device->spi_chip_erase = fu_vli_usbhub_device_spi_chip_erase;
 	klass_vli_device->spi_sector_erase = fu_vli_usbhub_device_spi_sector_erase;