diff --git a/src/libxl/libxl_conf.c b/src/libxl/libxl_conf.c
index f549a5d..abbd3c0 100644
--- a/src/libxl/libxl_conf.c
+++ b/src/libxl/libxl_conf.c
@@ -811,6 +811,30 @@ libxlMakeCapabilities(libxl_ctx *ctx)
 }
 
 int
+libxlMakeEmulator(virDomainDefPtr def, libxl_domain_config *d_config)
+{
+    /* No explicit override means use the default */
+    if (!def->emulator) {
+        return 0;
+    }
+    if (strstr(def->emulator, "/qemu-system-")) {
+        d_config->b_info.device_model_version =
+            LIBXL_DEVICE_MODEL_VERSION_QEMU_XEN;
+        return 0;
+    }
+    if (strstr(def->emulator, "/qemu-dm")) {
+        d_config->b_info.device_model_version =
+            LIBXL_DEVICE_MODEL_VERSION_QEMU_XEN_TRADITIONAL;
+        return 0;
+    }
+    virReportError(VIR_ERR_INTERNAL_ERROR,
+                   _("libxenlight doesn't support emulator '%s'"),
+                   def->emulator);
+    return -1;
+}
+
+
+int
 libxlBuildDomainConfig(libxlDriverPrivatePtr driver,
                        virDomainDefPtr def, libxl_domain_config *d_config)
 {
@@ -834,6 +858,10 @@ libxlBuildDomainConfig(libxlDriverPrivatePtr driver,
         goto error;
     }
 
+    if (libxlMakeEmulator(def, d_config) < 0) {
+        goto error;
+    }
+
     d_config->on_reboot = def->onReboot;
     d_config->on_poweroff = def->onPoweroff;
     d_config->on_crash = def->onCrash;