diff --git a/docs/md/melange_build.md b/docs/md/melange_build.md
index bc119f73e..0c6217d57 100644
--- a/docs/md/melange_build.md
+++ b/docs/md/melange_build.md
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ melange build [flags]
       --cache-source string                                     directory or bucket used for preloading the cache
       --cleanup                                                 when enabled, the temp dir used for the guest will be cleaned up after completion (default true)
       --cpu string                                              default CPU resources to use for builds
-      --cpumodel string                                         default memory resources to use for builds (default "host")
+      --cpumodel string                                         default memory resources to use for builds
       --create-build-log                                        creates a package.log file containing a list of packages that were built by the command
       --debug                                                   enables debug logging of build pipelines
       --debug-runner                                            when enabled, the builder pod will persist after the build succeeds or fails
diff --git a/pkg/cli/build.go b/pkg/cli/build.go
index d4191133b..e6b0cab58 100644
--- a/pkg/cli/build.go
+++ b/pkg/cli/build.go
@@ -251,7 +251,7 @@ func buildCmd() *cobra.Command {
 	cmd.Flags().BoolVarP(&interactive, "interactive", "i", false, "when enabled, attaches stdin with a tty to the pod on failure")
 	cmd.Flags().BoolVar(&remove, "rm", true, "clean up intermediate artifacts (e.g. container images, temp dirs)")
 	cmd.Flags().StringVar(&cpu, "cpu", "", "default CPU resources to use for builds")
-	cmd.Flags().StringVar(&cpumodel, "cpumodel", "host", "default memory resources to use for builds")
+	cmd.Flags().StringVar(&cpumodel, "cpumodel", "", "default memory resources to use for builds")
 	cmd.Flags().StringVar(&disk, "disk", "", "disk size to use for builds")
 	cmd.Flags().StringVar(&memory, "memory", "", "default memory resources to use for builds")
 	cmd.Flags().DurationVar(&timeout, "timeout", 0, "default timeout for builds")
diff --git a/pkg/container/qemu_runner.go b/pkg/container/qemu_runner.go
index 5112681be..eb5d84255 100644
--- a/pkg/container/qemu_runner.go
+++ b/pkg/container/qemu_runner.go
@@ -358,14 +358,14 @@ func createMicroVM(ctx context.Context, cfg *Config) error {
 	}
 
 	// use kvm on linux, and Hypervisor.framework on macOS
-	if runtime.GOOS == "linux" {
-		if cfg.Arch.ToAPK() != apko_types.ParseArchitecture(runtime.GOARCH).ToAPK() {
-			baseargs = append(baseargs, "-accel", "tcg,thread=multi")
-		} else if _, err := os.Stat("/dev/kvm"); err == nil {
+	if cfg.Arch.ToAPK() != apko_types.ParseArchitecture(runtime.GOARCH).ToAPK() {
+		baseargs = append(baseargs, "-accel", "tcg,thread=multi")
+	} else {
+		if runtime.GOOS == "linux" {
 			baseargs = append(baseargs, "-accel", "kvm")
+		} else if runtime.GOOS == "darwin" {
+			baseargs = append(baseargs, "-accel", "hvf")
 		}
-	} else if runtime.GOOS == "darwin" {
-		baseargs = append(baseargs, "-accel", "hvf")
 	}
 
 	if cfg.CPUModel != "" {