diff --git a/src/qemu/qemu_conf.c b/src/qemu/qemu_conf.c
index 824055f3ca..d3da7768d2 100644
--- a/src/qemu/qemu_conf.c
+++ b/src/qemu/qemu_conf.c
@@ -2108,6 +2108,7 @@ int qemudBuildCommandLine(virConnectPtr conn,
                              def->emulator);
             goto error;
         }
+        ADD_ARG_LIT("-mem-prealloc");
         ADD_ARG_LIT("-mem-path");
         ADD_ARG_LIT(driver->hugepage_path);
     }