diff --git a/vl.c b/vl.c

index 7ae549e..28fd2f3 100644

--- a/vl.c

+++ b/vl.c

@@ -1953,8 +1953,13 @@ static int configure_accelerator(void)

     }

     if (p == NULL) {

+#ifdef CONFIG_KVM

         /* Use the default "accelerator", kvm */

         p = "kvm";

+#else

+        /* Use the default "accelerator", tcg */

+        p = "tcg";

+#endif

     }

     while (!accel_initalised && *p != '\0') {