diff --git a/hw/riscv/boot.c b/hw/riscv/boot.c
index c79a08e6fe..afe5bae03d 100644
--- a/hw/riscv/boot.c
+++ b/hw/riscv/boot.c
@@ -166,6 +166,7 @@ target_ulong riscv_load_kernel(MachineState *machine,
 {
     const char *kernel_filename = machine->kernel_filename;
     uint64_t kernel_load_base, kernel_entry;
+    void *fdt = machine->fdt;
 
     /*
      * NB: Use low address not ELF entry point to ensure that the fw_dynamic
@@ -177,21 +178,35 @@ target_ulong riscv_load_kernel(MachineState *machine,
     if (load_elf_ram_sym(kernel_filename, NULL, NULL, NULL,
                          NULL, &kernel_load_base, NULL, NULL, 0,
                          EM_RISCV, 1, 0, NULL, true, sym_cb) > 0) {
-        return kernel_load_base;
+        kernel_entry = kernel_load_base;
+        goto out;
     }
 
     if (load_uimage_as(kernel_filename, &kernel_entry, NULL, NULL,
                        NULL, NULL, NULL) > 0) {
-        return kernel_entry;
+        goto out;
     }
 
     if (load_image_targphys_as(kernel_filename, kernel_start_addr,
                                current_machine->ram_size, NULL) > 0) {
-        return kernel_start_addr;
+        kernel_entry = kernel_start_addr;
+        goto out;
     }
 
     error_report("could not load kernel '%s'", kernel_filename);
     exit(1);
+
+out:
+    if (machine->initrd_filename) {
+        riscv_load_initrd(machine, kernel_entry);
+    }
+
+    if (fdt && machine->kernel_cmdline && *machine->kernel_cmdline) {
+        qemu_fdt_setprop_string(fdt, "/chosen", "bootargs",
+                                machine->kernel_cmdline);
+    }
+
+    return kernel_entry;
 }
 
 void riscv_load_initrd(MachineState *machine, uint64_t kernel_entry)
diff --git a/hw/riscv/microchip_pfsoc.c b/hw/riscv/microchip_pfsoc.c
index 82ae5e7023..57fd6739a5 100644
--- a/hw/riscv/microchip_pfsoc.c
+++ b/hw/riscv/microchip_pfsoc.c
@@ -631,15 +631,6 @@ static void microchip_icicle_kit_machine_init(MachineState *machine)
 
         kernel_entry = riscv_load_kernel(machine, kernel_start_addr, NULL);
 
-        if (machine->initrd_filename) {
-            riscv_load_initrd(machine, kernel_entry);
-        }
-
-        if (machine->kernel_cmdline && *machine->kernel_cmdline) {
-            qemu_fdt_setprop_string(machine->fdt, "/chosen",
-                                    "bootargs", machine->kernel_cmdline);
-        }
-
         /* Compute the fdt load address in dram */
         fdt_load_addr = riscv_load_fdt(memmap[MICROCHIP_PFSOC_DRAM_LO].base,
                                        machine->ram_size, machine->fdt);
diff --git a/hw/riscv/sifive_u.c b/hw/riscv/sifive_u.c
index bac394c959..0c9bf7fe6a 100644
--- a/hw/riscv/sifive_u.c
+++ b/hw/riscv/sifive_u.c
@@ -599,15 +599,6 @@ static void sifive_u_machine_init(MachineState *machine)
                                                          firmware_end_addr);
 
         kernel_entry = riscv_load_kernel(machine, kernel_start_addr, NULL);
-
-        if (machine->initrd_filename) {
-            riscv_load_initrd(machine, kernel_entry);
-        }
-
-        if (machine->kernel_cmdline && *machine->kernel_cmdline) {
-            qemu_fdt_setprop_string(machine->fdt, "/chosen", "bootargs",
-                                    machine->kernel_cmdline);
-        }
     } else {
        /*
         * If dynamic firmware is used, it doesn't know where is the next mode
diff --git a/hw/riscv/spike.c b/hw/riscv/spike.c
index c9c69f92fc..2b9af5689e 100644
--- a/hw/riscv/spike.c
+++ b/hw/riscv/spike.c
@@ -274,15 +274,6 @@ static void spike_board_init(MachineState *machine)
 
         kernel_entry = riscv_load_kernel(machine, kernel_start_addr,
                                          htif_symbol_callback);
-
-        if (machine->initrd_filename) {
-            riscv_load_initrd(machine, kernel_entry);
-        }
-
-        if (machine->kernel_cmdline && *machine->kernel_cmdline) {
-            qemu_fdt_setprop_string(machine->fdt, "/chosen", "bootargs",
-                                    machine->kernel_cmdline);
-        }
     } else {
        /*
         * If dynamic firmware is used, it doesn't know where is the next mode
diff --git a/hw/riscv/virt.c b/hw/riscv/virt.c
index c8e35f861e..11c903a212 100644
--- a/hw/riscv/virt.c
+++ b/hw/riscv/virt.c
@@ -1282,15 +1282,6 @@ static void virt_machine_done(Notifier *notifier, void *data)
                                                          firmware_end_addr);
 
         kernel_entry = riscv_load_kernel(machine, kernel_start_addr, NULL);
-
-        if (machine->initrd_filename) {
-            riscv_load_initrd(machine, kernel_entry);
-        }
-
-        if (machine->kernel_cmdline && *machine->kernel_cmdline) {
-            qemu_fdt_setprop_string(machine->fdt, "/chosen", "bootargs",
-                                    machine->kernel_cmdline);
-        }
     } else {
        /*
         * If dynamic firmware is used, it doesn't know where is the next mode
