diff --git a/docs/how-to/how-to-set-sandbox-config-kata.md b/docs/how-to/how-to-set-sandbox-config-kata.md
index 28d5ea788e..9f612831c2 100644
--- a/docs/how-to/how-to-set-sandbox-config-kata.md
+++ b/docs/how-to/how-to-set-sandbox-config-kata.md
@@ -91,6 +91,7 @@ There are several kinds of Kata configurations and they are listed below.
 | `io.katacontainers.config.hypervisor.virtio_fs_daemon` | string | virtio-fs `vhost-user` daemon path |
 | `io.katacontainers.config.hypervisor.virtio_fs_extra_args` | string | extra options passed to `virtiofs` daemon |
 | `io.katacontainers.config.hypervisor.enable_guest_swap` | `boolean` | enable swap in the guest |
+| `io.katacontainers.config.hypervisor.use_legacy_serial` | `boolean` | uses legacy serial device for guest's console (QEMU) |
 
 ## Container Options
 | Key | Value Type | Comments |
@@ -172,7 +173,7 @@ kind: Pod
 metadata:
   name: pod2
   annotations:
-    io.katacontainers.config.runtime.disable_guest_seccomp: false
+    io.katacontainers.config.runtime.disable_guest_seccomp: "false"
 spec:
   runtimeClassName: kata
   containers:
diff --git a/src/runtime/config/configuration-qemu.toml.in b/src/runtime/config/configuration-qemu.toml.in
index e0dd09cf6b..09c219545d 100644
--- a/src/runtime/config/configuration-qemu.toml.in
+++ b/src/runtime/config/configuration-qemu.toml.in
@@ -389,6 +389,9 @@ valid_entropy_sources = @DEFVALIDENTROPYSOURCES@
 # be default_memory.
 #enable_guest_swap = true
 
+# use legacy serial for guest console if available and implemented for architecture. Default false
+#use_legacy_serial = true
+
 [factory]
 # VM templating support. Once enabled, new VMs are created from template
 # using vm cloning. They will share the same initial kernel, initramfs and
diff --git a/src/runtime/pkg/katautils/config-settings.go.in b/src/runtime/pkg/katautils/config-settings.go.in
index 09d6b5f30c..2aad22bd85 100644
--- a/src/runtime/pkg/katautils/config-settings.go.in
+++ b/src/runtime/pkg/katautils/config-settings.go.in
@@ -89,6 +89,7 @@ const defaultGuestSwap = false
 const defaultRootlessHypervisor = false
 const defaultDisableSeccomp = false
 const defaultVfioMode = "guest-kernel"
+const defaultLegacySerial = false
 
 var defaultSGXEPCSize = int64(0)
 
diff --git a/src/runtime/pkg/katautils/config.go b/src/runtime/pkg/katautils/config.go
index ec02b4bc26..2a62c3d6c3 100644
--- a/src/runtime/pkg/katautils/config.go
+++ b/src/runtime/pkg/katautils/config.go
@@ -146,6 +146,7 @@ type hypervisor struct {
 	Rootless                       bool     `toml:"rootless"`
 	DisableSeccomp                 bool     `toml:"disable_seccomp"`
 	DisableSeLinux                 bool     `toml:"disable_selinux"`
+	LegacySerial                   bool     `toml:"use_legacy_serial"`
 }
 
 type runtime struct {
@@ -775,6 +776,7 @@ func newQemuHypervisorConfig(h hypervisor) (vc.HypervisorConfig, error) {
 		ConfidentialGuest:       h.ConfidentialGuest,
 		GuestSwap:               h.GuestSwap,
 		Rootless:                h.Rootless,
+		LegacySerial:            h.LegacySerial,
 	}, nil
 }
 
@@ -1132,6 +1134,7 @@ func GetDefaultHypervisorConfig() vc.HypervisorConfig {
 		GuestSwap:               defaultGuestSwap,
 		Rootless:                defaultRootlessHypervisor,
 		DisableSeccomp:          defaultDisableSeccomp,
+		LegacySerial:            defaultLegacySerial,
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/src/runtime/pkg/oci/utils.go b/src/runtime/pkg/oci/utils.go
index f72f1147e5..e6e4dcfe6f 100644
--- a/src/runtime/pkg/oci/utils.go
+++ b/src/runtime/pkg/oci/utils.go
@@ -474,6 +474,12 @@ func addHypervisorConfigOverrides(ocispec specs.Spec, config *vc.SandboxConfig,
 		return err
 	}
 
+	if err := newAnnotationConfiguration(ocispec, vcAnnotations.UseLegacySerial).setBool(func(useLegacySerial bool) {
+		config.HypervisorConfig.LegacySerial = useLegacySerial
+	}); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
 	if err := newAnnotationConfiguration(ocispec, vcAnnotations.PCIeRootPort).setUint(func(pcieRootPort uint64) {
 		config.HypervisorConfig.PCIeRootPort = uint32(pcieRootPort)
 	}); err != nil {
diff --git a/src/runtime/pkg/oci/utils_test.go b/src/runtime/pkg/oci/utils_test.go
index bfa71801d2..e6158a96eb 100644
--- a/src/runtime/pkg/oci/utils_test.go
+++ b/src/runtime/pkg/oci/utils_test.go
@@ -670,6 +670,7 @@ func TestAddHypervisorAnnotations(t *testing.T) {
 	ocispec.Annotations[vcAnnotations.PCIeRootPort] = "2"
 	ocispec.Annotations[vcAnnotations.IOMMUPlatform] = "true"
 	ocispec.Annotations[vcAnnotations.SGXEPC] = "64Mi"
+	ocispec.Annotations[vcAnnotations.UseLegacySerial] = "true"
 	// 10Mbit
 	ocispec.Annotations[vcAnnotations.RxRateLimiterMaxRate] = "10000000"
 	ocispec.Annotations[vcAnnotations.TxRateLimiterMaxRate] = "10000000"
@@ -706,6 +707,7 @@ func TestAddHypervisorAnnotations(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Equal(config.HypervisorConfig.PCIeRootPort, uint32(2))
 	assert.Equal(config.HypervisorConfig.IOMMUPlatform, true)
 	assert.Equal(config.HypervisorConfig.SGXEPCSize, int64(67108864))
+	assert.Equal(config.HypervisorConfig.LegacySerial, true)
 	assert.Equal(config.HypervisorConfig.RxRateLimiterMaxRate, uint64(10000000))
 	assert.Equal(config.HypervisorConfig.TxRateLimiterMaxRate, uint64(10000000))
 
diff --git a/src/runtime/virtcontainers/hypervisor.go b/src/runtime/virtcontainers/hypervisor.go
index c689eae3c9..9de4dc0d0a 100644
--- a/src/runtime/virtcontainers/hypervisor.go
+++ b/src/runtime/virtcontainers/hypervisor.go
@@ -537,6 +537,9 @@ type HypervisorConfig struct {
 
 	// Disable selinux from the hypervisor process
 	DisableSeLinux bool
+
+	// Use legacy serial for the guest console
+	LegacySerial bool
 }
 
 // vcpu mapping from vcpu number to thread number
diff --git a/src/runtime/virtcontainers/pkg/annotations/annotations.go b/src/runtime/virtcontainers/pkg/annotations/annotations.go
index 5bd9b26db4..6618d0acdf 100644
--- a/src/runtime/virtcontainers/pkg/annotations/annotations.go
+++ b/src/runtime/virtcontainers/pkg/annotations/annotations.go
@@ -130,6 +130,9 @@ const (
 	// entropy (/dev/random, /dev/urandom or real hardware RNG device)
 	EntropySource = kataAnnotHypervisorPrefix + "entropy_source"
 
+	// UseLegacySerial sets legacy serial device for guest console if available and implemented for architecture
+	UseLegacySerial = kataAnnotHypervisorPrefix + "use_legacy_serial"
+
 	//
 	//	CPU Annotations
 	//
diff --git a/src/runtime/virtcontainers/qemu.go b/src/runtime/virtcontainers/qemu.go
index a910c580ff..070ace1e71 100644
--- a/src/runtime/virtcontainers/qemu.go
+++ b/src/runtime/virtcontainers/qemu.go
@@ -552,13 +552,6 @@ func (q *qemu) CreateVM(ctx context.Context, id string, network Network, hypervi
 		return err
 	}
 
-	// Breaks hypervisor abstration Has Kata Specific logic
-	kernel := govmmQemu.Kernel{
-		Path:       kernelPath,
-		InitrdPath: initrdPath,
-		Params:     q.kernelParameters(),
-	}
-
 	incoming := q.setupTemplate(&knobs, &memory)
 
 	// With the current implementations, VM templating will not work with file
@@ -630,6 +623,14 @@ func (q *qemu) CreateVM(ctx context.Context, id string, network Network, hypervi
 		return err
 	}
 
+	// Breaks hypervisor abstraction has Kata Specific logic
+	kernel := govmmQemu.Kernel{
+		Path:       kernelPath,
+		InitrdPath: initrdPath,
+		// some devices configuration may also change kernel params, make sure this is called afterwards
+		Params: q.kernelParameters(),
+	}
+
 	qemuConfig := govmmQemu.Config{
 		Name:        fmt.Sprintf("sandbox-%s", q.id),
 		UUID:        q.state.UUID,
diff --git a/src/runtime/virtcontainers/qemu_amd64.go b/src/runtime/virtcontainers/qemu_amd64.go
index 3f52ab756d..61c18c68e4 100644
--- a/src/runtime/virtcontainers/qemu_amd64.go
+++ b/src/runtime/virtcontainers/qemu_amd64.go
@@ -56,8 +56,6 @@ var kernelParams = []Param{
 	{"i8042.noaux", "1"},
 	{"noreplace-smp", ""},
 	{"reboot", "k"},
-	{"console", "hvc0"},
-	{"console", "hvc1"},
 	{"cryptomgr.notests", ""},
 	{"net.ifnames", "0"},
 	{"pci", "lastbus=0"},
@@ -124,6 +122,7 @@ func newQemuArch(config HypervisorConfig) (qemuArch, error) {
 			disableNvdimm:        config.DisableImageNvdimm,
 			dax:                  true,
 			protection:           noneProtection,
+			legacySerial:         config.LegacySerial,
 		},
 		vmFactory: factory,
 	}
diff --git a/src/runtime/virtcontainers/qemu_arch_base.go b/src/runtime/virtcontainers/qemu_arch_base.go
index 62fec60a7d..a2873a2160 100644
--- a/src/runtime/virtcontainers/qemu_arch_base.go
+++ b/src/runtime/virtcontainers/qemu_arch_base.go
@@ -169,6 +169,7 @@ type qemuArchBase struct {
 	vhost         bool
 	disableNvdimm bool
 	dax           bool
+	legacySerial  bool
 }
 
 const (
@@ -318,24 +319,50 @@ func (q *qemuArchBase) memoryTopology(memoryMb, hostMemoryMb uint64, slots uint8
 }
 
 func (q *qemuArchBase) appendConsole(_ context.Context, devices []govmmQemu.Device, path string) ([]govmmQemu.Device, error) {
-	serial := govmmQemu.SerialDevice{
-		Driver:        govmmQemu.VirtioSerial,
-		ID:            "serial0",
-		DisableModern: q.nestedRun,
-		MaxPorts:      uint(2),
+	var serial, console govmmQemu.Device
+	var consoleKernelParams []Param
+
+	if q.legacySerial {
+		serial = govmmQemu.LegacySerialDevice{
+			Chardev: "charconsole0",
+		}
+
+		console = govmmQemu.CharDevice{
+			Driver:   govmmQemu.LegacySerial,
+			Backend:  govmmQemu.Socket,
+			DeviceID: "console0",
+			ID:       "charconsole0",
+			Path:     path,
+		}
+
+		consoleKernelParams = []Param{
+			{"console", "ttyS0"},
+		}
+	} else {
+		serial = govmmQemu.SerialDevice{
+			Driver:        govmmQemu.VirtioSerial,
+			ID:            "serial0",
+			DisableModern: q.nestedRun,
+			MaxPorts:      uint(2),
+		}
+
+		console = govmmQemu.CharDevice{
+			Driver:   govmmQemu.Console,
+			Backend:  govmmQemu.Socket,
+			DeviceID: "console0",
+			ID:       "charconsole0",
+			Path:     path,
+		}
+
+		consoleKernelParams = []Param{
+			{"console", "hvc0"},
+			{"console", "hvc1"},
+		}
 	}
 
 	devices = append(devices, serial)
-
-	console := govmmQemu.CharDevice{
-		Driver:   govmmQemu.Console,
-		Backend:  govmmQemu.Socket,
-		DeviceID: "console0",
-		ID:       "charconsole0",
-		Path:     path,
-	}
-
 	devices = append(devices, console)
+	q.kernelParams = append(q.kernelParams, consoleKernelParams...)
 
 	return devices, nil
 }
diff --git a/src/runtime/virtcontainers/qemu_arch_base_test.go b/src/runtime/virtcontainers/qemu_arch_base_test.go
index ff20ba4479..57c97f773b 100644
--- a/src/runtime/virtcontainers/qemu_arch_base_test.go
+++ b/src/runtime/virtcontainers/qemu_arch_base_test.go
@@ -259,6 +259,36 @@ func TestQemuArchBaseAppendConsoles(t *testing.T) {
 	devices, err = qemuArchBase.appendConsole(context.Background(), devices, path)
 	assert.NoError(err)
 	assert.Equal(expectedOut, devices)
+	assert.Contains(qemuArchBase.kernelParams, Param{"console", "hvc0"})
+	assert.Contains(qemuArchBase.kernelParams, Param{"console", "hvc1"})
+}
+
+func TestQemuArchBaseAppendConsolesLegacy(t *testing.T) {
+	var devices []govmmQemu.Device
+	var err error
+	assert := assert.New(t)
+	qemuArchBase := newQemuArchBase()
+	qemuArchBase.legacySerial = true
+
+	path := filepath.Join(filepath.Join(fs.MockRunStoragePath(), "test"), consoleSocket)
+
+	expectedOut := []govmmQemu.Device{
+		govmmQemu.LegacySerialDevice{
+			Chardev: "charconsole0",
+		},
+		govmmQemu.CharDevice{
+			Driver:   govmmQemu.LegacySerial,
+			Backend:  govmmQemu.Socket,
+			DeviceID: "console0",
+			ID:       "charconsole0",
+			Path:     path,
+		},
+	}
+
+	devices, err = qemuArchBase.appendConsole(context.Background(), devices, path)
+	assert.NoError(err)
+	assert.Equal(expectedOut, devices)
+	assert.Contains(qemuArchBase.kernelParams, Param{"console", "ttyS0"})
 }
 
 func TestQemuArchBaseAppendImage(t *testing.T) {
diff --git a/src/runtime/virtcontainers/qemu_arm64.go b/src/runtime/virtcontainers/qemu_arm64.go
index f5af19e219..378b89c6d7 100644
--- a/src/runtime/virtcontainers/qemu_arm64.go
+++ b/src/runtime/virtcontainers/qemu_arm64.go
@@ -33,8 +33,6 @@ const qmpMigrationWaitTimeout = 10 * time.Second
 const defaultQemuMachineOptions = "usb=off,accel=kvm,gic-version=host"
 
 var kernelParams = []Param{
-	{"console", "hvc0"},
-	{"console", "hvc1"},
 	{"iommu.passthrough", "0"},
 }
 
@@ -64,6 +62,7 @@ func newQemuArch(config HypervisorConfig) (qemuArch, error) {
 			disableNvdimm:        config.DisableImageNvdimm,
 			dax:                  true,
 			protection:           noneProtection,
+			legacySerial:         config.LegacySerial,
 		},
 	}
 
diff --git a/src/runtime/virtcontainers/qemu_ppc64le.go b/src/runtime/virtcontainers/qemu_ppc64le.go
index e18f2264b5..27bac35818 100644
--- a/src/runtime/virtcontainers/qemu_ppc64le.go
+++ b/src/runtime/virtcontainers/qemu_ppc64le.go
@@ -41,8 +41,6 @@ const tpmHostPath = "/dev/tpmrm0"
 var kernelParams = []Param{
 	{"rcupdate.rcu_expedited", "1"},
 	{"reboot", "k"},
-	{"console", "hvc0"},
-	{"console", "hvc1"},
 	{"cryptomgr.notests", ""},
 	{"net.ifnames", "0"},
 }
@@ -76,6 +74,7 @@ func newQemuArch(config HypervisorConfig) (qemuArch, error) {
 			kernelParamsDebug:    kernelParamsDebug,
 			kernelParams:         kernelParams,
 			protection:           noneProtection,
+			legacySerial:         config.LegacySerial,
 		},
 	}
 
diff --git a/src/runtime/virtcontainers/qemu_s390x.go b/src/runtime/virtcontainers/qemu_s390x.go
index 32716e7767..f0946698f7 100644
--- a/src/runtime/virtcontainers/qemu_s390x.go
+++ b/src/runtime/virtcontainers/qemu_s390x.go
@@ -39,9 +39,7 @@ const (
 )
 
 // Verify needed parameters
-var kernelParams = []Param{
-	{"console", "ttysclp0"},
-}
+var kernelParams = []Param{}
 
 var ccwbridge = types.NewBridge(types.CCW, "", make(map[uint32]string, types.CCWBridgeMaxCapacity), 0)
 
@@ -68,6 +66,7 @@ func newQemuArch(config HypervisorConfig) (qemuArch, error) {
 			kernelParamsNonDebug: kernelParamsNonDebug,
 			kernelParamsDebug:    kernelParamsDebug,
 			kernelParams:         kernelParams,
+			legacySerial:         false,
 		},
 	}
 	// Set first bridge type to CCW
@@ -112,6 +111,8 @@ func (q *qemuS390x) appendConsole(ctx context.Context, devices []govmmQemu.Devic
 		return devices, fmt.Errorf("Failed to append console %v", err)
 	}
 
+	q.kernelParams = append(q.kernelParams, Param{"console", "ttysclp0"})
+
 	serial := govmmQemu.SerialDevice{
 		Driver:        virtioSerialCCW,
 		ID:            id,