diff --git a/python/qemu/machine/machine.py b/python/qemu/machine/machine.py
index 8b935813e9..3fde73cf10 100644
--- a/python/qemu/machine/machine.py
+++ b/python/qemu/machine/machine.py
@@ -570,14 +570,12 @@ class QEMUMachine:
         return self._qmp_connection
 
     @classmethod
-    def _qmp_args(cls, _conv_keys: bool = True, **args: Any) -> Dict[str, Any]:
-        qmp_args = dict()
-        for key, value in args.items():
-            if _conv_keys:
-                qmp_args[key.replace('_', '-')] = value
-            else:
-                qmp_args[key] = value
-        return qmp_args
+    def _qmp_args(cls, conv_keys: bool,
+                  args: Dict[str, Any]) -> Dict[str, object]:
+        if conv_keys:
+            return {k.replace('_', '-'): v for k, v in args.items()}
+
+        return args
 
     def qmp(self, cmd: str,
             conv_keys: bool = True,
@@ -585,7 +583,7 @@ class QEMUMachine:
         """
         Invoke a QMP command and return the response dict
         """
-        qmp_args = self._qmp_args(conv_keys, **args)
+        qmp_args = self._qmp_args(conv_keys, args)
         return self._qmp.cmd(cmd, args=qmp_args)
 
     def command(self, cmd: str,
@@ -596,7 +594,7 @@ class QEMUMachine:
         On success return the response dict.
         On failure raise an exception.
         """
-        qmp_args = self._qmp_args(conv_keys, **args)
+        qmp_args = self._qmp_args(conv_keys, args)
         return self._qmp.command(cmd, **qmp_args)
 
     def get_qmp_event(self, wait: bool = False) -> Optional[QMPMessage]: