diff --git a/meta/classes/testimage.bbclass b/meta/classes/testimage.bbclass
index bfe5714454..a259423c22 100644
--- a/meta/classes/testimage.bbclass
+++ b/meta/classes/testimage.bbclass
@@ -210,7 +210,9 @@ def testimage_main(d):
 
     # Get use_kvm
     qemu_use_kvm = d.getVar("QEMU_USE_KVM")
-    if qemu_use_kvm and qemu_use_kvm == 'True' and 'x86' in machine:
+    if qemu_use_kvm and \
+       (qemu_use_kvm == 'True' and 'x86' in machine or \
+        d.getVar('MACHINE') in qemu_use_kvm.split()):
         kvm = True
     else:
         kvm = False
diff --git a/meta/lib/oeqa/targetcontrol.py b/meta/lib/oeqa/targetcontrol.py
index 40a2589cc9..c3aeb221dd 100644
--- a/meta/lib/oeqa/targetcontrol.py
+++ b/meta/lib/oeqa/targetcontrol.py
@@ -131,9 +131,10 @@ class QemuTarget(BaseTarget):
         dump_target_cmds = d.getVar("testimage_dump_target")
         dump_host_cmds = d.getVar("testimage_dump_host")
         dump_dir = d.getVar("TESTIMAGE_DUMP_DIR")
-        if d.getVar("QEMU_USE_KVM", False) is not None \
-           and d.getVar("QEMU_USE_KVM", False) == "True" \
-           and "x86" in d.getVar("MACHINE"):
+        qemu_use_kvm = d.getVar("QEMU_USE_KVM")
+        if qemu_use_kvm and \
+           (qemu_use_kvm == "True" and "x86" in d.getVar("MACHINE") or \
+            d.getVar("MACHINE") in qemu_use_kvm.split()):
             use_kvm = True
         else:
             use_kvm = False