diff --git a/virtcontainers/qemu_s390x.go b/virtcontainers/qemu_s390x.go
index cd87d681e6..6e9c6ff87f 100644
--- a/virtcontainers/qemu_s390x.go
+++ b/virtcontainers/qemu_s390x.go
@@ -30,13 +30,15 @@ var qemuPaths = map[string]string{
 	QemuCCWVirtio: defaultQemuPath,
 }
 
-var kernelRootParams = []Param{}
-
 // Verify needed parameters
 var kernelParams = []Param{
 	{"console", "ttysclp0"},
 }
 
+var kernelRootParams = []Param{
+	{"root", "/dev/vda1"},
+}
+
 var supportedQemuMachines = []govmmQemu.Machine{
 	{
 		Type:    QemuCCWVirtio,