diff --git a/lib/hypervisor/hv_kvm.py b/lib/hypervisor/hv_kvm.py
index b61be65..100aafd 100644
--- a/lib/hypervisor/hv_kvm.py
+++ b/lib/hypervisor/hv_kvm.py
@@ -1380,6 +1380,7 @@ class KVMHypervisor(hv_base.BaseHypervisor):
     kvm = hvp[constants.HV_KVM_PATH]
     kvm_cmd = [kvm]
     # used just by the vnc server, if enabled
+    kvm_cmd.extend(["-enable-kvm"])
     kvm_cmd.extend(["-name", instance.name])
     kvm_cmd.extend(["-m", instance.beparams[constants.BE_MAXMEM]])