diff --git a/target-i386/cpu.c b/target-i386/cpu.c
index f0f3df1..93da9b2 100644
--- a/target-i386/cpu.c
+++ b/target-i386/cpu.c
@@ -45,6 +45,18 @@
 #include "hw/apic_internal.h"
 #endif
 
+static void x86_cpu_vendor_words2str(char *dst, uint32_t vendor1,
+                                     uint32_t vendor2, uint32_t vendor3)
+{
+    int i;
+    for (i = 0; i < 4; i++) {
+        dst[i] = vendor1 >> (8 * i);
+        dst[i + 4] = vendor2 >> (8 * i);
+        dst[i + 8] = vendor3 >> (8 * i);
+    }
+    dst[CPUID_VENDOR_SZ] = '\0';
+}
+
 /* feature flags taken from "Intel Processor Identification and the CPUID
  * Instruction" and AMD's "CPUID Specification".  In cases of disagreement
  * between feature naming conventions, aliases may be added.
@@ -336,7 +348,8 @@ typedef struct x86_def_t {
     struct x86_def_t *next;
     const char *name;
     uint32_t level;
-    uint32_t vendor1, vendor2, vendor3;
+    /* vendor is zero-terminated, 12 character ASCII string */
+    char vendor[CPUID_VENDOR_SZ + 1];
     int family;
     int model;
     int stepping;
@@ -401,9 +414,7 @@ static x86_def_t builtin_x86_defs[] = {
     {
         .name = "qemu64",
         .level = 4,
-        .vendor1 = CPUID_VENDOR_AMD_1,
-        .vendor2 = CPUID_VENDOR_AMD_2,
-        .vendor3 = CPUID_VENDOR_AMD_3,
+        .vendor = CPUID_VENDOR_AMD,
         .family = 6,
         .model = 2,
         .stepping = 3,
@@ -420,9 +431,7 @@ static x86_def_t builtin_x86_defs[] = {
     {
         .name = "phenom",
         .level = 5,
-        .vendor1 = CPUID_VENDOR_AMD_1,
-        .vendor2 = CPUID_VENDOR_AMD_2,
-        .vendor3 = CPUID_VENDOR_AMD_3,
+        .vendor = CPUID_VENDOR_AMD,
         .family = 16,
         .model = 2,
         .stepping = 3,
@@ -448,9 +457,7 @@ static x86_def_t builtin_x86_defs[] = {
     {
         .name = "core2duo",
         .level = 10,
-        .vendor1 = CPUID_VENDOR_INTEL_1,
-        .vendor2 = CPUID_VENDOR_INTEL_2,
-        .vendor3 = CPUID_VENDOR_INTEL_3,
+        .vendor = CPUID_VENDOR_INTEL,
         .family = 6,
         .model = 15,
         .stepping = 11,
@@ -469,9 +476,7 @@ static x86_def_t builtin_x86_defs[] = {
     {
         .name = "kvm64",
         .level = 5,
-        .vendor1 = CPUID_VENDOR_INTEL_1,
-        .vendor2 = CPUID_VENDOR_INTEL_2,
-        .vendor3 = CPUID_VENDOR_INTEL_3,
+        .vendor = CPUID_VENDOR_INTEL,
         .family = 15,
         .model = 6,
         .stepping = 1,
@@ -495,9 +500,7 @@ static x86_def_t builtin_x86_defs[] = {
     {
         .name = "qemu32",
         .level = 4,
-        .vendor1 = CPUID_VENDOR_INTEL_1,
-        .vendor2 = CPUID_VENDOR_INTEL_2,
-        .vendor3 = CPUID_VENDOR_INTEL_3,
+        .vendor = CPUID_VENDOR_INTEL,
         .family = 6,
         .model = 3,
         .stepping = 3,
@@ -508,9 +511,7 @@ static x86_def_t builtin_x86_defs[] = {
     {
         .name = "kvm32",
         .level = 5,
-        .vendor1 = CPUID_VENDOR_INTEL_1,
-        .vendor2 = CPUID_VENDOR_INTEL_2,
-        .vendor3 = CPUID_VENDOR_INTEL_3,
+        .vendor = CPUID_VENDOR_INTEL,
         .family = 15,
         .model = 6,
         .stepping = 1,
@@ -525,9 +526,7 @@ static x86_def_t builtin_x86_defs[] = {
     {
         .name = "coreduo",
         .level = 10,
-        .vendor1 = CPUID_VENDOR_INTEL_1,
-        .vendor2 = CPUID_VENDOR_INTEL_2,
-        .vendor3 = CPUID_VENDOR_INTEL_3,
+        .vendor = CPUID_VENDOR_INTEL,
         .family = 6,
         .model = 14,
         .stepping = 8,
@@ -543,9 +542,7 @@ static x86_def_t builtin_x86_defs[] = {
     {
         .name = "486",
         .level = 1,
-        .vendor1 = CPUID_VENDOR_INTEL_1,
-        .vendor2 = CPUID_VENDOR_INTEL_2,
-        .vendor3 = CPUID_VENDOR_INTEL_3,
+        .vendor = CPUID_VENDOR_INTEL,
         .family = 4,
         .model = 0,
         .stepping = 0,
@@ -555,9 +552,7 @@ static x86_def_t builtin_x86_defs[] = {
     {
         .name = "pentium",
         .level = 1,
-        .vendor1 = CPUID_VENDOR_INTEL_1,
-        .vendor2 = CPUID_VENDOR_INTEL_2,
-        .vendor3 = CPUID_VENDOR_INTEL_3,
+        .vendor = CPUID_VENDOR_INTEL,
         .family = 5,
         .model = 4,
         .stepping = 3,
@@ -567,9 +562,7 @@ static x86_def_t builtin_x86_defs[] = {
     {
         .name = "pentium2",
         .level = 2,
-        .vendor1 = CPUID_VENDOR_INTEL_1,
-        .vendor2 = CPUID_VENDOR_INTEL_2,
-        .vendor3 = CPUID_VENDOR_INTEL_3,
+        .vendor = CPUID_VENDOR_INTEL,
         .family = 6,
         .model = 5,
         .stepping = 2,
@@ -579,9 +572,7 @@ static x86_def_t builtin_x86_defs[] = {
     {
         .name = "pentium3",
         .level = 2,
-        .vendor1 = CPUID_VENDOR_INTEL_1,
-        .vendor2 = CPUID_VENDOR_INTEL_2,
-        .vendor3 = CPUID_VENDOR_INTEL_3,
+        .vendor = CPUID_VENDOR_INTEL,
         .family = 6,
         .model = 7,
         .stepping = 3,
@@ -591,9 +582,7 @@ static x86_def_t builtin_x86_defs[] = {
     {
         .name = "athlon",
         .level = 2,
-        .vendor1 = CPUID_VENDOR_AMD_1,
-        .vendor2 = CPUID_VENDOR_AMD_2,
-        .vendor3 = CPUID_VENDOR_AMD_3,
+        .vendor = CPUID_VENDOR_AMD,
         .family = 6,
         .model = 2,
         .stepping = 3,
@@ -607,9 +596,7 @@ static x86_def_t builtin_x86_defs[] = {
         .name = "n270",
         /* original is on level 10 */
         .level = 5,
-        .vendor1 = CPUID_VENDOR_INTEL_1,
-        .vendor2 = CPUID_VENDOR_INTEL_2,
-        .vendor3 = CPUID_VENDOR_INTEL_3,
+        .vendor = CPUID_VENDOR_INTEL,
         .family = 6,
         .model = 28,
         .stepping = 2,
@@ -628,9 +615,7 @@ static x86_def_t builtin_x86_defs[] = {
     {
         .name = "Conroe",
         .level = 2,
-        .vendor1 = CPUID_VENDOR_INTEL_1,
-        .vendor2 = CPUID_VENDOR_INTEL_2,
-        .vendor3 = CPUID_VENDOR_INTEL_3,
+        .vendor = CPUID_VENDOR_INTEL,
         .family = 6,
         .model = 2,
         .stepping = 3,
@@ -648,9 +633,7 @@ static x86_def_t builtin_x86_defs[] = {
     {
         .name = "Penryn",
         .level = 2,
-        .vendor1 = CPUID_VENDOR_INTEL_1,
-        .vendor2 = CPUID_VENDOR_INTEL_2,
-        .vendor3 = CPUID_VENDOR_INTEL_3,
+        .vendor = CPUID_VENDOR_INTEL,
         .family = 6,
         .model = 2,
         .stepping = 3,
@@ -669,9 +652,7 @@ static x86_def_t builtin_x86_defs[] = {
     {
         .name = "Nehalem",
         .level = 2,
-        .vendor1 = CPUID_VENDOR_INTEL_1,
-        .vendor2 = CPUID_VENDOR_INTEL_2,
-        .vendor3 = CPUID_VENDOR_INTEL_3,
+        .vendor = CPUID_VENDOR_INTEL,
         .family = 6,
         .model = 2,
         .stepping = 3,
@@ -690,9 +671,7 @@ static x86_def_t builtin_x86_defs[] = {
     {
         .name = "Westmere",
         .level = 11,
-        .vendor1 = CPUID_VENDOR_INTEL_1,
-        .vendor2 = CPUID_VENDOR_INTEL_2,
-        .vendor3 = CPUID_VENDOR_INTEL_3,
+        .vendor = CPUID_VENDOR_INTEL,
         .family = 6,
         .model = 44,
         .stepping = 1,
@@ -712,9 +691,7 @@ static x86_def_t builtin_x86_defs[] = {
     {
         .name = "SandyBridge",
         .level = 0xd,
-        .vendor1 = CPUID_VENDOR_INTEL_1,
-        .vendor2 = CPUID_VENDOR_INTEL_2,
-        .vendor3 = CPUID_VENDOR_INTEL_3,
+        .vendor = CPUID_VENDOR_INTEL,
         .family = 6,
         .model = 42,
         .stepping = 1,
@@ -737,9 +714,7 @@ static x86_def_t builtin_x86_defs[] = {
     {
         .name = "Haswell",
         .level = 0xd,
-        .vendor1 = CPUID_VENDOR_INTEL_1,
-        .vendor2 = CPUID_VENDOR_INTEL_2,
-        .vendor3 = CPUID_VENDOR_INTEL_3,
+        .vendor = CPUID_VENDOR_INTEL,
         .family = 6,
         .model = 60,
         .stepping = 1,
@@ -767,9 +742,7 @@ static x86_def_t builtin_x86_defs[] = {
     {
         .name = "Opteron_G1",
         .level = 5,
-        .vendor1 = CPUID_VENDOR_AMD_1,
-        .vendor2 = CPUID_VENDOR_AMD_2,
-        .vendor3 = CPUID_VENDOR_AMD_3,
+        .vendor = CPUID_VENDOR_AMD,
         .family = 15,
         .model = 6,
         .stepping = 1,
@@ -791,9 +764,7 @@ static x86_def_t builtin_x86_defs[] = {
     {
         .name = "Opteron_G2",
         .level = 5,
-        .vendor1 = CPUID_VENDOR_AMD_1,
-        .vendor2 = CPUID_VENDOR_AMD_2,
-        .vendor3 = CPUID_VENDOR_AMD_3,
+        .vendor = CPUID_VENDOR_AMD,
         .family = 15,
         .model = 6,
         .stepping = 1,
@@ -817,9 +788,7 @@ static x86_def_t builtin_x86_defs[] = {
     {
         .name = "Opteron_G3",
         .level = 5,
-        .vendor1 = CPUID_VENDOR_AMD_1,
-        .vendor2 = CPUID_VENDOR_AMD_2,
-        .vendor3 = CPUID_VENDOR_AMD_3,
+        .vendor = CPUID_VENDOR_AMD,
         .family = 15,
         .model = 6,
         .stepping = 1,
@@ -845,9 +814,7 @@ static x86_def_t builtin_x86_defs[] = {
     {
         .name = "Opteron_G4",
         .level = 0xd,
-        .vendor1 = CPUID_VENDOR_AMD_1,
-        .vendor2 = CPUID_VENDOR_AMD_2,
-        .vendor3 = CPUID_VENDOR_AMD_3,
+        .vendor = CPUID_VENDOR_AMD,
         .family = 21,
         .model = 1,
         .stepping = 2,
@@ -877,9 +844,7 @@ static x86_def_t builtin_x86_defs[] = {
     {
         .name = "Opteron_G5",
         .level = 0xd,
-        .vendor1 = CPUID_VENDOR_AMD_1,
-        .vendor2 = CPUID_VENDOR_AMD_2,
-        .vendor3 = CPUID_VENDOR_AMD_3,
+        .vendor = CPUID_VENDOR_AMD,
         .family = 21,
         .model = 2,
         .stepping = 0,
@@ -940,9 +905,7 @@ static void kvm_cpu_fill_host(x86_def_t *x86_cpu_def)
 
     x86_cpu_def->name = "host";
     host_cpuid(0x0, 0, &eax, &ebx, &ecx, &edx);
-    x86_cpu_def->vendor1 = ebx;
-    x86_cpu_def->vendor2 = edx;
-    x86_cpu_def->vendor3 = ecx;
+    x86_cpu_vendor_words2str(x86_cpu_def->vendor, ebx, edx, ecx);
 
     host_cpuid(0x1, 0, &eax, &ebx, &ecx, &edx);
     x86_cpu_def->family = ((eax >> 8) & 0x0F) + ((eax >> 20) & 0xFF);
@@ -970,9 +933,7 @@ static void kvm_cpu_fill_host(x86_def_t *x86_cpu_def)
     x86_cpu_def->vendor_override = 0;
 
     /* Call Centaur's CPUID instruction. */
-    if (x86_cpu_def->vendor1 == CPUID_VENDOR_VIA_1 &&
-        x86_cpu_def->vendor2 == CPUID_VENDOR_VIA_2 &&
-        x86_cpu_def->vendor3 == CPUID_VENDOR_VIA_3) {
+    if (!strcmp(x86_cpu_def->vendor, CPUID_VENDOR_VIA)) {
         host_cpuid(0xC0000000, 0, &eax, &ebx, &ecx, &edx);
         eax = kvm_arch_get_supported_cpuid(s, 0xC0000000, 0, R_EAX);
         if (eax >= 0xC0000001) {
@@ -1208,15 +1169,10 @@ static char *x86_cpuid_get_vendor(Object *obj, Error **errp)
     X86CPU *cpu = X86_CPU(obj);
     CPUX86State *env = &cpu->env;
     char *value;
-    int i;
 
     value = (char *)g_malloc(CPUID_VENDOR_SZ + 1);
-    for (i = 0; i < 4; i++) {
-        value[i    ] = env->cpuid_vendor1 >> (8 * i);
-        value[i + 4] = env->cpuid_vendor2 >> (8 * i);
-        value[i + 8] = env->cpuid_vendor3 >> (8 * i);
-    }
-    value[CPUID_VENDOR_SZ] = '\0';
+    x86_cpu_vendor_words2str(value, env->cpuid_vendor1, env->cpuid_vendor2,
+                             env->cpuid_vendor3);
     return value;
 }
 
@@ -1336,7 +1292,6 @@ static int cpu_x86_find_by_name(x86_def_t *x86_cpu_def, const char *name)
  */
 static int cpu_x86_parse_featurestr(x86_def_t *x86_cpu_def, char *features)
 {
-    unsigned int i;
     char *featurestr; /* Single 'key=value" string being parsed */
     /* Features to be added */
     FeatureWordArray plus_features = { 0 };
@@ -1400,18 +1355,7 @@ static int cpu_x86_parse_featurestr(x86_def_t *x86_cpu_def, char *features)
                 }
                 x86_cpu_def->xlevel = numvalue;
             } else if (!strcmp(featurestr, "vendor")) {
-                if (strlen(val) != 12) {
-                    fprintf(stderr, "vendor string must be 12 chars long\n");
-                    goto error;
-                }
-                x86_cpu_def->vendor1 = 0;
-                x86_cpu_def->vendor2 = 0;
-                x86_cpu_def->vendor3 = 0;
-                for(i = 0; i < 4; i++) {
-                    x86_cpu_def->vendor1 |= ((uint8_t)val[i    ]) << (8 * i);
-                    x86_cpu_def->vendor2 |= ((uint8_t)val[i + 4]) << (8 * i);
-                    x86_cpu_def->vendor3 |= ((uint8_t)val[i + 8]) << (8 * i);
-                }
+                pstrcpy(x86_cpu_def->vendor, sizeof(x86_cpu_def->vendor), val);
                 x86_cpu_def->vendor_override = 1;
             } else if (!strcmp(featurestr, "model_id")) {
                 pstrcpy(x86_cpu_def->model_id, sizeof(x86_cpu_def->model_id),
@@ -1608,10 +1552,7 @@ int cpu_x86_register(X86CPU *cpu, const char *cpu_model)
         error_setg(&error, "Invalid cpu_model string format: %s", cpu_model);
         goto out;
     }
-    assert(def->vendor1);
-    env->cpuid_vendor1 = def->vendor1;
-    env->cpuid_vendor2 = def->vendor2;
-    env->cpuid_vendor3 = def->vendor3;
+    object_property_set_str(OBJECT(cpu), def->vendor, "vendor", &error);
     env->cpuid_vendor_override = def->vendor_override;
     object_property_set_int(OBJECT(cpu), def->level, "level", &error);
     object_property_set_int(OBJECT(cpu), def->family, "family", &error);
diff --git a/target-i386/cpu.h b/target-i386/cpu.h
index 9d4fcf9..72135f8 100644
--- a/target-i386/cpu.h
+++ b/target-i386/cpu.h
@@ -537,14 +537,14 @@ typedef uint32_t FeatureWordArray[FEATURE_WORDS];
 #define CPUID_VENDOR_INTEL_1 0x756e6547 /* "Genu" */
 #define CPUID_VENDOR_INTEL_2 0x49656e69 /* "ineI" */
 #define CPUID_VENDOR_INTEL_3 0x6c65746e /* "ntel" */
+#define CPUID_VENDOR_INTEL "GenuineIntel"
 
 #define CPUID_VENDOR_AMD_1   0x68747541 /* "Auth" */
 #define CPUID_VENDOR_AMD_2   0x69746e65 /* "enti" */
 #define CPUID_VENDOR_AMD_3   0x444d4163 /* "cAMD" */
+#define CPUID_VENDOR_AMD   "AuthenticAMD"
 
-#define CPUID_VENDOR_VIA_1   0x746e6543 /* "Cent" */
-#define CPUID_VENDOR_VIA_2   0x48727561 /* "aurH" */
-#define CPUID_VENDOR_VIA_3   0x736c7561 /* "auls" */
+#define CPUID_VENDOR_VIA   "CentaurHauls"
 
 #define CPUID_MWAIT_IBE     (1 << 1) /* Interrupts can exit capability */
 #define CPUID_MWAIT_EMX     (1 << 0) /* enumeration supported */
