diff --git a/kvm-run.c b/kvm-run.c
index 4986d6c..48f50c7 100644
--- a/kvm-run.c
+++ b/kvm-run.c
@@ -177,7 +177,8 @@ int kvm_cmd_run(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 
 	}
 
-	kernel_filename = find_host_kernel();
+	if (!kernel_filename)
+		kernel_filename = find_host_kernel();
 
 	if (!kernel_filename) {
 		usage_with_options(run_usage, options);