diff --git a/src/fu-udev-backend.c b/src/fu-udev-backend.c
index ead4d0add..a69f92e5a 100644
--- a/src/fu-udev-backend.c
+++ b/src/fu-udev-backend.c
@@ -46,6 +46,13 @@ fu_udev_backend_device_add(FuUdevBackend *self, GUdevDevice *udev_device)
 		}
 	}
 
+	/* ignore some devices */
+	if (gtype == FU_TYPE_MEI_DEVICE && g_udev_device_get_device_file(udev_device) == NULL) {
+		g_debug("ignoring MEI device %s as no device file",
+			g_udev_device_get_sysfs_path(udev_device));
+		return;
+	}
+
 	/* success */
 	device = g_object_new(gtype,
 			      "context",