diff --git a/qemu-config.c b/qemu-config.c
index 5c3296b..b86ee36 100644
--- a/qemu-config.c
+++ b/qemu-config.c
@@ -595,6 +595,10 @@ static QemuOptsList qemu_machine_opts = {
             .name = "dt_compatible",
             .type = QEMU_OPT_STRING,
             .help = "Overrides the \"compatible\" property of the dt root node",
+        },{
+            .name = "usb",
+            .type = QEMU_OPT_BOOL,
+            .help = "Set on/off to enable/disable usb",
         },
         { /* End of list */ }
     },
diff --git a/sysemu.h b/sysemu.h
index 6540c79..09f97fb 100644
--- a/sysemu.h
+++ b/sysemu.h
@@ -118,7 +118,6 @@ extern const char *keyboard_layout;
 extern int win2k_install_hack;
 extern int alt_grab;
 extern int ctrl_grab;
-extern int usb_enabled;
 extern int smp_cpus;
 extern int max_cpus;
 extern int cursor_hide;
diff --git a/vl.c b/vl.c
index 9fea320..db8b080 100644
--- a/vl.c
+++ b/vl.c
@@ -196,7 +196,6 @@ CharDriverState *serial_hds[MAX_SERIAL_PORTS];
 CharDriverState *parallel_hds[MAX_PARALLEL_PORTS];
 CharDriverState *virtcon_hds[MAX_VIRTIO_CONSOLES];
 int win2k_install_hack = 0;
-int usb_enabled = 0;
 int singlestep = 0;
 int smp_cpus = 1;
 int max_cpus = 0;
@@ -1044,13 +1043,24 @@ static void smp_parse(const char *optarg)
 /***********************************************************/
 /* USB devices */
 
+static inline bool usb_enabled(bool default_usb)
+{
+    QemuOpts *mach_opts;
+    mach_opts = qemu_opts_find(qemu_find_opts("machine"), 0);
+    if (mach_opts) {
+        return qemu_opt_get_bool(mach_opts, "usb", default_usb);
+    }
+    return default_usb;
+}
+
 static int usb_device_add(const char *devname)
 {
     const char *p;
     USBDevice *dev = NULL;
 
-    if (!usb_enabled)
+    if (!usb_enabled(false)) {
         return -1;
+    }
 
     /* drivers with .usbdevice_name entry in USBDeviceInfo */
     dev = usbdevice_create(devname);
@@ -1086,8 +1096,9 @@ static int usb_device_del(const char *devname)
     if (strstart(devname, "host:", &p))
         return usb_host_device_close(p);
 
-    if (!usb_enabled)
+    if (!usb_enabled(false)) {
         return -1;
+    }
 
     p = strchr(devname, '.');
     if (!p)
@@ -2978,10 +2989,16 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv, char **envp)
                 }
                 break;
             case QEMU_OPTION_usb:
-                usb_enabled = 1;
+                machine_opts = qemu_opts_find(qemu_find_opts("machine"), 0);
+                if (machine_opts) {
+                    qemu_opt_set_bool(machine_opts, "usb", true);
+                }
                 break;
             case QEMU_OPTION_usbdevice:
-                usb_enabled = 1;
+                machine_opts = qemu_opts_find(qemu_find_opts("machine"), 0);
+                if (machine_opts) {
+                    qemu_opt_set_bool(machine_opts, "usb", true);
+                }
                 add_device_config(DEV_USB, optarg);
                 break;
             case QEMU_OPTION_device:
@@ -3526,7 +3543,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv, char **envp)
     current_machine = machine;
 
     /* init USB devices */
-    if (usb_enabled) {
+    if (usb_enabled(false)) {
         if (foreach_device_config(DEV_USB, usb_parse) < 0)
             exit(1);
     }