diff --git a/src/python/gem5/components/boards/arm_board.py b/src/python/gem5/components/boards/arm_board.py
index b439edf970..82b7a39107 100644
--- a/src/python/gem5/components/boards/arm_board.py
+++ b/src/python/gem5/components/boards/arm_board.py
@@ -354,7 +354,7 @@ class ArmBoard(ArmSystem, AbstractBoard, KernelDiskWorkload):
         )
 
     @overrides(KernelDiskWorkload)
-    def get_disk_device(self):
+    def _get_default_disk_device(self):
         return "/dev/vda"
 
     @overrides(KernelDiskWorkload)
diff --git a/src/python/gem5/components/boards/experimental/lupv_board.py b/src/python/gem5/components/boards/experimental/lupv_board.py
index ad130b7273..cba50a1d56 100644
--- a/src/python/gem5/components/boards/experimental/lupv_board.py
+++ b/src/python/gem5/components/boards/experimental/lupv_board.py
@@ -539,7 +539,7 @@ class LupvBoard(AbstractSystemBoard, KernelDiskWorkload):
         return ["console=ttyLIO0", "root={root_value}", "rw"]
 
     @overrides(KernelDiskWorkload)
-    def get_disk_device(self) -> str:
+    def set_default_disk_device(self) -> str:
         return "/dev/lda"
 
     @overrides(KernelDiskWorkload)
diff --git a/src/python/gem5/components/boards/kernel_disk_workload.py b/src/python/gem5/components/boards/kernel_disk_workload.py
index 15e0cdf303..79d55ba8b4 100644
--- a/src/python/gem5/components/boards/kernel_disk_workload.py
+++ b/src/python/gem5/components/boards/kernel_disk_workload.py
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ import os
 from pathlib import Path
 
 import m5
+from m5 import warn
 
 
 class KernelDiskWorkload:
@@ -84,11 +85,25 @@ class KernelDiskWorkload:
         """
         raise NotImplementedError
 
-    @abstractmethod
     def get_disk_device(self) -> str:
         """
         Get the disk device, e.g., "/dev/sda", where the disk image is placed.
 
+        :returns: The disk device.
+        """
+        if self._disk_device is None:
+            warn("No disk device set, ie where the disk image is located. Defaulting to board disk device")
+            return _get_default_disk_device()
+        else:
+            return self._disk_device
+        
+
+    
+    @abstractmethod
+    def _get_default_disk_device(self) -> str:
+        """
+        Set a default disk device, in case user does not specify a disk device.
+
         :returns: The disk device.
         """
         raise NotImplementedError
@@ -139,6 +154,7 @@ class KernelDiskWorkload:
         kernel: KernelResource,
         disk_image: DiskImageResource,
         bootloader: Optional[BootloaderResource] = None,
+        _disk_device: Optional[str] = None,
         readfile: Optional[str] = None,
         readfile_contents: Optional[str] = None,
         kernel_args: Optional[List[str]] = None,
@@ -171,6 +187,9 @@ class KernelDiskWorkload:
         # Abstract board. This function will not work otherwise.
         assert isinstance(self, AbstractBoard)
 
+        # Set the disk device
+        self._disk_device = _disk_device
+
         # If we are setting a workload of this type, we need to run as a
         # full-system simulation.
         self._set_fullsystem(True)
@@ -192,6 +211,7 @@ class KernelDiskWorkload:
         if bootloader is not None:
             self._bootloader = [bootloader.get_local_path()]
 
+
         # Set the readfile.
         if readfile:
             self.readfile = readfile
diff --git a/src/python/gem5/components/boards/riscv_board.py b/src/python/gem5/components/boards/riscv_board.py
index 25f1fac562..d8020d1974 100644
--- a/src/python/gem5/components/boards/riscv_board.py
+++ b/src/python/gem5/components/boards/riscv_board.py
@@ -467,7 +467,7 @@ class RiscvBoard(AbstractSystemBoard, KernelDiskWorkload):
         fdt.writeDtbFile(os.path.join(outdir, "device.dtb"))
 
     @overrides(KernelDiskWorkload)
-    def get_disk_device(self):
+    def _get_default_disk_device(self):
         return "/dev/vda"
 
     @overrides(KernelDiskWorkload)
diff --git a/src/python/gem5/components/boards/x86_board.py b/src/python/gem5/components/boards/x86_board.py
index 04fec617c1..1a3b9fa1c8 100644
--- a/src/python/gem5/components/boards/x86_board.py
+++ b/src/python/gem5/components/boards/x86_board.py
@@ -296,7 +296,7 @@ class X86Board(AbstractSystemBoard, KernelDiskWorkload):
         ]
 
     @overrides(KernelDiskWorkload)
-    def get_disk_device(self):
+    def _get_default_disk_device(self):
         return "/dev/hda"
 
     @overrides(KernelDiskWorkload)
diff --git a/src/python/gem5/prebuilt/riscvmatched/riscvmatched_board.py b/src/python/gem5/prebuilt/riscvmatched/riscvmatched_board.py
index 9ca95839f8..3411ea61be 100644
--- a/src/python/gem5/prebuilt/riscvmatched/riscvmatched_board.py
+++ b/src/python/gem5/prebuilt/riscvmatched/riscvmatched_board.py
@@ -539,7 +539,7 @@ class RISCVMatchedBoard(
         fdt.writeDtbFile(os.path.join(outdir, "device.dtb"))
 
     @overrides(KernelDiskWorkload)
-    def get_disk_device(self):
+    def _get_default_disk_device(self):
         return "/dev/vda"
 
     @overrides(KernelDiskWorkload)