diff --git a/src/arch/arm/kvm/KvmGic.py b/src/arch/arm/kvm/KvmGic.py
index 9796908ddb..ce85ecb0bd 100644
--- a/src/arch/arm/kvm/KvmGic.py
+++ b/src/arch/arm/kvm/KvmGic.py
@@ -41,3 +41,6 @@ from m5.objects.Gic import GicV2
 class MuxingKvmGic(GicV2):
     type = 'MuxingKvmGic'
     cxx_header = "arch/arm/kvm/gic.hh"
+
+    simulate_gic = Param.Bool(False,
+        "Forcing the simulation to use the gem5 GIC instead of the host GIC")
diff --git a/src/arch/arm/kvm/gic.cc b/src/arch/arm/kvm/gic.cc
index 6767833524..feb764f8d6 100644
--- a/src/arch/arm/kvm/gic.cc
+++ b/src/arch/arm/kvm/gic.cc
@@ -170,7 +170,8 @@ MuxingKvmGic::MuxingKvmGic(const MuxingKvmGicParams &p)
       kernelGic(nullptr),
       usingKvm(false)
 {
-    if (auto vm = system.getKvmVM()) {
+    auto vm = system.getKvmVM();
+    if (vm && !p.simulate_gic) {
         kernelGic = new KvmKernelGicV2(*vm, p.cpu_addr, p.dist_addr,
                                        p.it_lines);
     }