diff --git a/hw/riscv/boot.c b/hw/riscv/boot.c
index f7e806143a..cd9c989edb 100644
--- a/hw/riscv/boot.c
+++ b/hw/riscv/boot.c
@@ -171,10 +171,11 @@ target_ulong riscv_load_firmware(const char *firmware_filename,
     exit(1);
 }
 
-target_ulong riscv_load_kernel(const char *kernel_filename,
+target_ulong riscv_load_kernel(MachineState *machine,
                                target_ulong kernel_start_addr,
                                symbol_fn_t sym_cb)
 {
+    const char *kernel_filename = machine->kernel_filename;
     uint64_t kernel_load_base, kernel_entry;
 
     /*
diff --git a/hw/riscv/microchip_pfsoc.c b/hw/riscv/microchip_pfsoc.c
index 1e9b0a420e..82ae5e7023 100644
--- a/hw/riscv/microchip_pfsoc.c
+++ b/hw/riscv/microchip_pfsoc.c
@@ -629,8 +629,7 @@ static void microchip_icicle_kit_machine_init(MachineState *machine)
         kernel_start_addr = riscv_calc_kernel_start_addr(&s->soc.u_cpus,
                                                          firmware_end_addr);
 
-        kernel_entry = riscv_load_kernel(machine->kernel_filename,
-                                         kernel_start_addr, NULL);
+        kernel_entry = riscv_load_kernel(machine, kernel_start_addr, NULL);
 
         if (machine->initrd_filename) {
             riscv_load_initrd(machine, kernel_entry);
diff --git a/hw/riscv/opentitan.c b/hw/riscv/opentitan.c
index 85ffdac5be..64d5d435b9 100644
--- a/hw/riscv/opentitan.c
+++ b/hw/riscv/opentitan.c
@@ -101,8 +101,7 @@ static void opentitan_board_init(MachineState *machine)
     }
 
     if (machine->kernel_filename) {
-        riscv_load_kernel(machine->kernel_filename,
-                          memmap[IBEX_DEV_RAM].base, NULL);
+        riscv_load_kernel(machine, memmap[IBEX_DEV_RAM].base, NULL);
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/hw/riscv/sifive_e.c b/hw/riscv/sifive_e.c
index d65d2fd869..3e3f4b0088 100644
--- a/hw/riscv/sifive_e.c
+++ b/hw/riscv/sifive_e.c
@@ -114,8 +114,7 @@ static void sifive_e_machine_init(MachineState *machine)
                           memmap[SIFIVE_E_DEV_MROM].base, &address_space_memory);
 
     if (machine->kernel_filename) {
-        riscv_load_kernel(machine->kernel_filename,
-                          memmap[SIFIVE_E_DEV_DTIM].base, NULL);
+        riscv_load_kernel(machine, memmap[SIFIVE_E_DEV_DTIM].base, NULL);
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/hw/riscv/sifive_u.c b/hw/riscv/sifive_u.c
index c40885ed5c..bac394c959 100644
--- a/hw/riscv/sifive_u.c
+++ b/hw/riscv/sifive_u.c
@@ -598,8 +598,7 @@ static void sifive_u_machine_init(MachineState *machine)
         kernel_start_addr = riscv_calc_kernel_start_addr(&s->soc.u_cpus,
                                                          firmware_end_addr);
 
-        kernel_entry = riscv_load_kernel(machine->kernel_filename,
-                                         kernel_start_addr, NULL);
+        kernel_entry = riscv_load_kernel(machine, kernel_start_addr, NULL);
 
         if (machine->initrd_filename) {
             riscv_load_initrd(machine, kernel_entry);
diff --git a/hw/riscv/spike.c b/hw/riscv/spike.c
index 0c22978b12..0bba5c1640 100644
--- a/hw/riscv/spike.c
+++ b/hw/riscv/spike.c
@@ -302,8 +302,7 @@ static void spike_board_init(MachineState *machine)
         kernel_start_addr = riscv_calc_kernel_start_addr(&s->soc[0],
                                                          firmware_end_addr);
 
-        kernel_entry = riscv_load_kernel(machine->kernel_filename,
-                                         kernel_start_addr,
+        kernel_entry = riscv_load_kernel(machine, kernel_start_addr,
                                          htif_symbol_callback);
 
         if (machine->initrd_filename) {
diff --git a/hw/riscv/virt.c b/hw/riscv/virt.c
index 02f1369843..c8e35f861e 100644
--- a/hw/riscv/virt.c
+++ b/hw/riscv/virt.c
@@ -1281,8 +1281,7 @@ static void virt_machine_done(Notifier *notifier, void *data)
         kernel_start_addr = riscv_calc_kernel_start_addr(&s->soc[0],
                                                          firmware_end_addr);
 
-        kernel_entry = riscv_load_kernel(machine->kernel_filename,
-                                         kernel_start_addr, NULL);
+        kernel_entry = riscv_load_kernel(machine, kernel_start_addr, NULL);
 
         if (machine->initrd_filename) {
             riscv_load_initrd(machine, kernel_entry);
diff --git a/include/hw/riscv/boot.h b/include/hw/riscv/boot.h
index cfd72ecabf..f94653a09b 100644
--- a/include/hw/riscv/boot.h
+++ b/include/hw/riscv/boot.h
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ char *riscv_find_firmware(const char *firmware_filename,
 target_ulong riscv_load_firmware(const char *firmware_filename,
                                  hwaddr firmware_load_addr,
                                  symbol_fn_t sym_cb);
-target_ulong riscv_load_kernel(const char *kernel_filename,
+target_ulong riscv_load_kernel(MachineState *machine,
                                target_ulong firmware_end_addr,
                                symbol_fn_t sym_cb);
 void riscv_load_initrd(MachineState *machine, uint64_t kernel_entry);
