diff --git a/test/test-functions b/test/test-functions
index 0a9d4f80ac1..5d223dbc63e 100644
--- a/test/test-functions
+++ b/test/test-functions
@@ -68,8 +68,7 @@ selinux=0 \
 $KERNEL_APPEND \
 "
 
-    QEMU_OPTIONS="-machine accel=kvm:tcg \
--smp $QEMU_SMP \
+    QEMU_OPTIONS="-smp $QEMU_SMP \
 -net none \
 -m 512M \
 -nographic \
@@ -80,6 +79,10 @@ $KERNEL_APPEND \
         QEMU_OPTIONS="$QEMU_OPTIONS -initrd $INITRD"
     fi
 
+    if [ -c /dev/kvm ]; then
+        QEMU_OPTIONS="$QEMU_OPTIONS -machine accel=kvm -enable-kvm -cpu host"
+    fi
+
     ( set -x
       $QEMU_BIN $QEMU_OPTIONS -append "$KERNEL_APPEND" $TESTDIR/rootdisk.img ) || return 1
 }