diff --git a/virtcontainers/qemu_amd64.go b/virtcontainers/qemu_amd64.go
index 3fbc5174aa..24650c8662 100644
--- a/virtcontainers/qemu_amd64.go
+++ b/virtcontainers/qemu_amd64.go
@@ -105,6 +105,8 @@ func newQemuArch(config HypervisorConfig) qemuArch {
 
 	if config.ImagePath != "" {
 		q.kernelParams = append(q.kernelParams, kernelRootParams...)
+		q.kernelParamsNonDebug = append(q.kernelParamsNonDebug, kernelParamsSystemdNonDebug...)
+		q.kernelParamsDebug = append(q.kernelParamsDebug, kernelParamsSystemdDebug...)
 	}
 
 	return q
diff --git a/virtcontainers/qemu_arch_base.go b/virtcontainers/qemu_arch_base.go
index 10b693d3d5..c377755a45 100644
--- a/virtcontainers/qemu_arch_base.go
+++ b/virtcontainers/qemu_arch_base.go
@@ -136,6 +136,11 @@ const (
 // parameters that will be used in standard (non-debug) mode.
 var kernelParamsNonDebug = []Param{
 	{"quiet", ""},
+}
+
+// kernelParamsSystemdNonDebug is a list of the default systemd related
+// kernel parameters that will be used in standard (non-debug) mode.
+var kernelParamsSystemdNonDebug = []Param{
 	{"systemd.show_status", "false"},
 }
 
@@ -144,6 +149,12 @@ var kernelParamsNonDebug = []Param{
 // possible).
 var kernelParamsDebug = []Param{
 	{"debug", ""},
+}
+
+// kernelParamsSystemdDebug is a list of the default systemd related kernel
+// parameters that will be used in debug mode (as much boot output as
+// possible).
+var kernelParamsSystemdDebug = []Param{
 	{"systemd.show_status", "true"},
 	{"systemd.log_level", "debug"},
 }
diff --git a/virtcontainers/qemu_arm64.go b/virtcontainers/qemu_arm64.go
index 52132a3168..e38916da6a 100644
--- a/virtcontainers/qemu_arm64.go
+++ b/virtcontainers/qemu_arm64.go
@@ -77,6 +77,8 @@ func newQemuArch(config HypervisrConfig) qemuArch {
 
 	if config.ImagePath != "" {
 		q.kernelParams = append(q.kernelParams, kernelRootParams...)
+		q.kernelParamsNonDebug = append(q.kernelParamsNonDebug, kernelParamsSystemdNonDebug...)
+		q.kernelParamsDebug = append(q.kernelParamsDebug, kernelParamsSystemdDebug...)
 	}
 
 	return q