diff --git a/docs/devel/testing.rst b/docs/devel/testing.rst
index 8e981e062d..27f286858a 100644
--- a/docs/devel/testing.rst
+++ b/docs/devel/testing.rst
@@ -746,6 +746,17 @@ name.  If one is not given explicitly, it will either be set to
 ``None``, or, if the test is tagged with one (and only one)
 ``:avocado: tags=arch:VALUE`` tag, it will be set to ``VALUE``.
 
+machine
+~~~~~~~
+
+The machine type that will be set to all QEMUMachine instances created
+by the test.
+
+The ``machine`` attribute will be set to the test parameter of the same
+name.  If one is not given explicitly, it will either be set to
+``None``, or, if the test is tagged with one (and only one)
+``:avocado: tags=machine:VALUE`` tag, it will be set to ``VALUE``.
+
 qemu_bin
 ~~~~~~~~
 
@@ -781,6 +792,13 @@ architecture of a kernel or disk image to boot a VM with.
 This parameter has a direct relation with the ``arch`` attribute.  If
 not given, it will default to None.
 
+machine
+~~~~~~~
+
+The machine type that will be set to all QEMUMachine instances created
+by the test.
+
+
 qemu_bin
 ~~~~~~~~
 
diff --git a/python/qemu/__init__.py b/python/qemu/__init__.py
index 6c919a3d56..4ca06c34a4 100644
--- a/python/qemu/__init__.py
+++ b/python/qemu/__init__.py
@@ -9,27 +9,3 @@
 # This work is licensed under the terms of the GNU GPL, version 2.  See
 # the COPYING file in the top-level directory.
 #
-# Based on qmp.py.
-#
-
-import logging
-import os
-
-from . import qmp
-from . import machine
-
-LOG = logging.getLogger(__name__)
-
-# Mapping host architecture to any additional architectures it can
-# support which often includes its 32 bit cousin.
-ADDITIONAL_ARCHES = {
-    "x86_64" : "i386",
-    "aarch64" : "armhf"
-}
-
-def kvm_available(target_arch=None):
-    host_arch = os.uname()[4]
-    if target_arch and target_arch != host_arch:
-        if target_arch != ADDITIONAL_ARCHES.get(host_arch):
-            return False
-    return os.access("/dev/kvm", os.R_OK | os.W_OK)
diff --git a/python/qemu/accel.py b/python/qemu/accel.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..0b38ddf0ab
--- /dev/null
+++ b/python/qemu/accel.py
@@ -0,0 +1,77 @@
+"""
+QEMU accel module:
+
+This module provides utilities for discover and check the availability of
+accelerators.
+"""
+# Copyright (C) 2015-2016 Red Hat Inc.
+# Copyright (C) 2012 IBM Corp.
+#
+# Authors:
+#  Fam Zheng <famz@redhat.com>
+#
+# This work is licensed under the terms of the GNU GPL, version 2.  See
+# the COPYING file in the top-level directory.
+#
+
+import logging
+import os
+import subprocess
+
+LOG = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+# Mapping host architecture to any additional architectures it can
+# support which often includes its 32 bit cousin.
+ADDITIONAL_ARCHES = {
+    "x86_64" : "i386",
+    "aarch64" : "armhf"
+}
+
+def list_accel(qemu_bin):
+    """
+    List accelerators enabled in the QEMU binary.
+
+    @param qemu_bin (str): path to the QEMU binary.
+    @raise Exception: if failed to run `qemu -accel help`
+    @return a list of accelerator names.
+    """
+    if not qemu_bin:
+        return []
+    try:
+        out = subprocess.check_output([qemu_bin, '-accel', 'help'],
+                                      universal_newlines=True)
+    except:
+        LOG.debug("Failed to get the list of accelerators in %s", qemu_bin)
+        raise
+    # Skip the first line which is the header.
+    return [acc.strip() for acc in out.splitlines()[1:]]
+
+def kvm_available(target_arch=None, qemu_bin=None):
+    """
+    Check if KVM is available using the following heuristic:
+      - Kernel module is present in the host;
+      - Target and host arches don't mismatch;
+      - KVM is enabled in the QEMU binary.
+
+    @param target_arch (str): target architecture
+    @param qemu_bin (str): path to the QEMU binary
+    @return True if kvm is available, otherwise False.
+    """
+    if not os.access("/dev/kvm", os.R_OK | os.W_OK):
+        return False
+    if target_arch:
+        host_arch = os.uname()[4]
+        if target_arch != host_arch:
+            if target_arch != ADDITIONAL_ARCHES.get(host_arch):
+                return False
+    if qemu_bin and "kvm" not in list_accel(qemu_bin):
+        return False
+    return True
+
+def tcg_available(qemu_bin):
+    """
+    Check if TCG is available.
+
+    @param qemu_bin (str): path to the QEMU binary
+    """
+    return 'tcg' in list_accel(qemu_bin)
diff --git a/python/qemu/machine.py b/python/qemu/machine.py
index a4631d6934..734efd8536 100644
--- a/python/qemu/machine.py
+++ b/python/qemu/machine.py
@@ -104,6 +104,7 @@ class QEMUMachine(object):
         self._events = []
         self._iolog = None
         self._socket_scm_helper = socket_scm_helper
+        self._qmp_set = True   # Enable QMP monitor by default.
         self._qmp = None
         self._qemu_full_args = None
         self._test_dir = test_dir
@@ -228,15 +229,16 @@ class QEMUMachine(object):
                 self._iolog = iolog.read()
 
     def _base_args(self):
-        if isinstance(self._monitor_address, tuple):
-            moncdev = "socket,id=mon,host=%s,port=%s" % (
-                self._monitor_address[0],
-                self._monitor_address[1])
-        else:
-            moncdev = 'socket,id=mon,path=%s' % self._vm_monitor
-        args = ['-chardev', moncdev,
-                '-mon', 'chardev=mon,mode=control',
-                '-display', 'none', '-vga', 'none']
+        args = ['-display', 'none', '-vga', 'none']
+        if self._qmp_set:
+            if isinstance(self._monitor_address, tuple):
+                moncdev = "socket,id=mon,host=%s,port=%s" % (
+                    self._monitor_address[0],
+                    self._monitor_address[1])
+            else:
+                moncdev = 'socket,id=mon,path=%s' % self._vm_monitor
+            args.extend(['-chardev', moncdev, '-mon',
+                         'chardev=mon,mode=control'])
         if self._machine is not None:
             args.extend(['-machine', self._machine])
         if self._console_set:
@@ -255,20 +257,21 @@ class QEMUMachine(object):
 
     def _pre_launch(self):
         self._temp_dir = tempfile.mkdtemp(dir=self._test_dir)
-        if self._monitor_address is not None:
-            self._vm_monitor = self._monitor_address
-        else:
-            self._vm_monitor = os.path.join(self._sock_dir,
-                                            self._name + "-monitor.sock")
-            self._remove_files.append(self._vm_monitor)
         self._qemu_log_path = os.path.join(self._temp_dir, self._name + ".log")
         self._qemu_log_file = open(self._qemu_log_path, 'wb')
 
-        self._qmp = qmp.QEMUMonitorProtocol(self._vm_monitor,
-                                            server=True)
+        if self._qmp_set:
+            if self._monitor_address is not None:
+                self._vm_monitor = self._monitor_address
+            else:
+                self._vm_monitor = os.path.join(self._sock_dir,
+                                                self._name + "-monitor.sock")
+                self._remove_files.append(self._vm_monitor)
+            self._qmp = qmp.QEMUMonitorProtocol(self._vm_monitor, server=True)
 
     def _post_launch(self):
-        self._qmp.accept()
+        if self._qmp:
+            self._qmp.accept()
 
     def _post_shutdown(self):
         if self._qemu_log_file is not None:
@@ -330,7 +333,8 @@ class QEMUMachine(object):
         Wait for the VM to power off
         """
         self._popen.wait()
-        self._qmp.close()
+        if self._qmp:
+            self._qmp.close()
         self._load_io_log()
         self._post_shutdown()
 
@@ -346,12 +350,13 @@ class QEMUMachine(object):
             self._console_socket = None
 
         if self.is_running():
-            try:
-                if not has_quit:
-                    self._qmp.cmd('quit')
-                self._qmp.close()
-            except:
-                self._popen.kill()
+            if self._qmp:
+                try:
+                    if not has_quit:
+                        self._qmp.cmd('quit')
+                    self._qmp.close()
+                except:
+                    self._popen.kill()
             self._popen.wait()
 
         self._load_io_log()
@@ -368,6 +373,21 @@ class QEMUMachine(object):
 
         self._launched = False
 
+    def set_qmp_monitor(self, enabled=True):
+        """
+        Set the QMP monitor.
+
+        @param enabled: if False, qmp monitor options will be removed from
+                        the base arguments of the resulting QEMU command
+                        line. Default is True.
+        @note: call this function before launch().
+        """
+        if enabled:
+            self._qmp_set = True
+        else:
+            self._qmp_set = False
+            self._qmp = None
+
     def qmp(self, cmd, conv_keys=True, **args):
         """
         Invoke a QMP command and return the response dict
diff --git a/scripts/analyze-migration.py b/scripts/analyze-migration.py
index e527eb168e..96a31d3974 100755
--- a/scripts/analyze-migration.py
+++ b/scripts/analyze-migration.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
 #
 #  Migration Stream Analyzer
 #
@@ -17,12 +17,18 @@
 # You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public
 # License along with this library; if not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
-from __future__ import print_function
-import numpy as np
 import json
 import os
 import argparse
 import collections
+import struct
+import sys
+
+
+MIN_PYTHON = (3, 2)
+if sys.version_info < MIN_PYTHON:
+    sys.exit("Python %s.%s or later is required.\n" % MIN_PYTHON)
+
 
 def mkdir_p(path):
     try:
@@ -30,29 +36,26 @@ def mkdir_p(path):
     except OSError:
         pass
 
+
 class MigrationFile(object):
     def __init__(self, filename):
         self.filename = filename
         self.file = open(self.filename, "rb")
 
     def read64(self):
-        return np.asscalar(np.fromfile(self.file, count=1, dtype='>i8')[0])
+        return int.from_bytes(self.file.read(8), byteorder='big', signed=True)
 
     def read32(self):
-        return np.asscalar(np.fromfile(self.file, count=1, dtype='>i4')[0])
+        return int.from_bytes(self.file.read(4), byteorder='big', signed=True)
 
     def read16(self):
-        return np.asscalar(np.fromfile(self.file, count=1, dtype='>i2')[0])
+        return int.from_bytes(self.file.read(2), byteorder='big', signed=True)
 
     def read8(self):
-        return np.asscalar(np.fromfile(self.file, count=1, dtype='>i1')[0])
+        return int.from_bytes(self.file.read(1), byteorder='big', signed=True)
 
     def readstr(self, len = None):
-        if len is None:
-            len = self.read8()
-        if len == 0:
-            return ""
-        return np.fromfile(self.file, count=1, dtype=('S%d' % len))[0]
+        return self.readvar(len).decode('utf-8')
 
     def readvar(self, size = None):
         if size is None:
@@ -86,8 +89,8 @@ class MigrationFile(object):
 
         # Find the last NULL byte, then the first brace after that. This should
         # be the beginning of our JSON data.
-        nulpos = data.rfind("\0")
-        jsonpos = data.find("{", nulpos)
+        nulpos = data.rfind(b'\0')
+        jsonpos = data.find(b'{', nulpos)
 
         # Check backwards from there and see whether we guessed right
         self.file.seek(datapos + jsonpos - 5, 0)
@@ -275,7 +278,7 @@ class VMSDFieldGeneric(object):
         return str(self.__str__())
 
     def __str__(self):
-        return " ".join("{0:02x}".format(ord(c)) for c in self.data)
+        return " ".join("{0:02x}".format(c) for c in self.data)
 
     def getDict(self):
         return self.__str__()
@@ -307,8 +310,8 @@ class VMSDFieldInt(VMSDFieldGeneric):
 
     def read(self):
         super(VMSDFieldInt, self).read()
-        self.sdata = np.fromstring(self.data, count=1, dtype=(self.sdtype))[0]
-        self.udata = np.fromstring(self.data, count=1, dtype=(self.udtype))[0]
+        self.sdata = int.from_bytes(self.data, byteorder='big', signed=True)
+        self.udata = int.from_bytes(self.data, byteorder='big', signed=False)
         self.data = self.sdata
         return self.data
 
@@ -363,7 +366,7 @@ class VMSDFieldStruct(VMSDFieldGeneric):
             array_len = field.pop('array_len')
             field['index'] = 0
             new_fields.append(field)
-            for i in xrange(1, array_len):
+            for i in range(1, array_len):
                 c = field.copy()
                 c['index'] = i
                 new_fields.append(c)
diff --git a/tests/Makefile.include b/tests/Makefile.include
index 8566f5f119..82dab2a36a 100644
--- a/tests/Makefile.include
+++ b/tests/Makefile.include
@@ -1185,7 +1185,7 @@ check-acceptance: check-venv $(TESTS_RESULTS_DIR)
             --show=$(AVOCADO_SHOW) run --job-results-dir=$(TESTS_RESULTS_DIR) \
             --filter-by-tags-include-empty --filter-by-tags-include-empty-key \
             $(AVOCADO_TAGS) \
-            --failfast=on $(SRC_PATH)/tests/acceptance, \
+            --failfast=on tests/acceptance, \
             "AVOCADO", "tests/acceptance")
 
 # Consolidated targets
diff --git a/tests/acceptance/avocado_qemu/__init__.py b/tests/acceptance/avocado_qemu/__init__.py
index 9a57c020d8..6618ea67c1 100644
--- a/tests/acceptance/avocado_qemu/__init__.py
+++ b/tests/acceptance/avocado_qemu/__init__.py
@@ -100,14 +100,24 @@ def exec_command_and_wait_for_pattern(test, command,
 
 
 class Test(avocado.Test):
+    def _get_unique_tag_val(self, tag_name):
+        """
+        Gets a tag value, if unique for a key
+        """
+        vals = self.tags.get(tag_name, [])
+        if len(vals) == 1:
+            return vals.pop()
+        return None
+
     def setUp(self):
         self._vms = {}
-        arches = self.tags.get('arch', [])
-        if len(arches) == 1:
-            arch = arches.pop()
-        else:
-            arch = None
-        self.arch = self.params.get('arch', default=arch)
+
+        self.arch = self.params.get('arch',
+                                    default=self._get_unique_tag_val('arch'))
+
+        self.machine = self.params.get('machine',
+                                       default=self._get_unique_tag_val('machine'))
+
         default_qemu_bin = pick_default_qemu_bin(arch=self.arch)
         self.qemu_bin = self.params.get('qemu_bin',
                                         default=default_qemu_bin)
@@ -129,6 +139,8 @@ class Test(avocado.Test):
             name = str(uuid.uuid4())
         if self._vms.get(name) is None:
             self._vms[name] = self._new_vm(*args)
+            if self.machine is not None:
+                self._vms[name].set_machine(self.machine)
         return self._vms[name]
 
     def tearDown(self):
diff --git a/tests/acceptance/boot_linux_console.py b/tests/acceptance/boot_linux_console.py
index 7e41cebd47..9c6aa2040a 100644
--- a/tests/acceptance/boot_linux_console.py
+++ b/tests/acceptance/boot_linux_console.py
@@ -62,7 +62,6 @@ class BootLinuxConsole(Test):
         kernel_hash = '23bebd2680757891cf7adedb033532163a792495'
         kernel_path = self.fetch_asset(kernel_url, asset_hash=kernel_hash)
 
-        self.vm.set_machine('pc')
         self.vm.set_console()
         kernel_command_line = self.KERNEL_COMMON_COMMAND_LINE + 'console=ttyS0'
         self.vm.add_args('-kernel', kernel_path,
@@ -85,7 +84,6 @@ class BootLinuxConsole(Test):
         kernel_path = self.extract_from_deb(deb_path,
                                             '/boot/vmlinux-2.6.32-5-4kc-malta')
 
-        self.vm.set_machine('malta')
         self.vm.set_console()
         kernel_command_line = self.KERNEL_COMMON_COMMAND_LINE + 'console=ttyS0'
         self.vm.add_args('-kernel', kernel_path,
@@ -118,7 +116,6 @@ class BootLinuxConsole(Test):
         kernel_path = self.extract_from_deb(deb_path,
                                             '/boot/vmlinux-2.6.32-5-5kc-malta')
 
-        self.vm.set_machine('malta')
         self.vm.set_console()
         kernel_command_line = self.KERNEL_COMMON_COMMAND_LINE + 'console=ttyS0'
         self.vm.add_args('-kernel', kernel_path,
@@ -148,7 +145,6 @@ class BootLinuxConsole(Test):
         initrd_path = self.workdir + "rootfs.cpio"
         archive.gzip_uncompress(initrd_path_gz, initrd_path)
 
-        self.vm.set_machine('malta')
         self.vm.set_console()
         kernel_command_line = (self.KERNEL_COMMON_COMMAND_LINE
                                + 'console=ttyS0 console=tty '
@@ -188,7 +184,6 @@ class BootLinuxConsole(Test):
         initrd_path = self.workdir + "rootfs.cpio"
         archive.gzip_uncompress(initrd_path_gz, initrd_path)
 
-        self.vm.set_machine('malta')
         self.vm.set_console()
         kernel_command_line = (self.KERNEL_COMMON_COMMAND_LINE
                                + 'console=ttyS0 console=tty '
@@ -215,7 +210,6 @@ class BootLinuxConsole(Test):
             with open(kernel_path, 'wb') as f_out:
                 shutil.copyfileobj(f_in, f_out)
 
-        self.vm.set_machine('malta')
         self.vm.set_console()
         kernel_command_line = (self.KERNEL_COMMON_COMMAND_LINE
                                + 'mem=256m@@0x0 '
@@ -275,7 +269,6 @@ class BootLinuxConsole(Test):
         kernel_hash = '8c73e469fc6ea06a58dc83a628fc695b693b8493'
         kernel_path = self.fetch_asset(kernel_url, asset_hash=kernel_hash)
 
-        self.vm.set_machine('virt')
         self.vm.set_console()
         kernel_command_line = (self.KERNEL_COMMON_COMMAND_LINE +
                                'console=ttyAMA0')
@@ -297,7 +290,6 @@ class BootLinuxConsole(Test):
         kernel_hash = 'e9826d741b4fb04cadba8d4824d1ed3b7fb8b4d4'
         kernel_path = self.fetch_asset(kernel_url, asset_hash=kernel_hash)
 
-        self.vm.set_machine('virt')
         self.vm.set_console()
         kernel_command_line = (self.KERNEL_COMMON_COMMAND_LINE +
                                'console=ttyAMA0')
@@ -310,7 +302,7 @@ class BootLinuxConsole(Test):
     def test_arm_emcraft_sf2(self):
         """
         :avocado: tags=arch:arm
-        :avocado: tags=machine:emcraft_sf2
+        :avocado: tags=machine:emcraft-sf2
         :avocado: tags=endian:little
         """
         uboot_url = ('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/'
@@ -324,7 +316,6 @@ class BootLinuxConsole(Test):
         spi_hash = '85f698329d38de63aea6e884a86fbde70890a78a'
         spi_path = self.fetch_asset(spi_url, asset_hash=spi_hash)
 
-        self.vm.set_machine('emcraft-sf2')
         self.vm.set_console()
         kernel_command_line = self.KERNEL_COMMON_COMMAND_LINE
         self.vm.add_args('-kernel', uboot_path,
@@ -351,7 +342,6 @@ class BootLinuxConsole(Test):
         kernel_path = self.extract_from_deb(deb_path, '/boot/kernel7.img')
         dtb_path = self.extract_from_deb(deb_path, '/boot/bcm2709-rpi-2-b.dtb')
 
-        self.vm.set_machine('raspi2')
         self.vm.set_console()
         kernel_command_line = (self.KERNEL_COMMON_COMMAND_LINE +
                                serial_kernel_cmdline[uart_id])
@@ -393,7 +383,6 @@ class BootLinuxConsole(Test):
         initrd_path = os.path.join(self.workdir, 'rootfs.cpio')
         archive.gzip_uncompress(initrd_path_gz, initrd_path)
 
-        self.vm.set_machine('smdkc210')
         self.vm.set_console()
         kernel_command_line = (self.KERNEL_COMMON_COMMAND_LINE +
                                'earlycon=exynos4210,0x13800000 earlyprintk ' +
@@ -414,7 +403,7 @@ class BootLinuxConsole(Test):
     def test_s390x_s390_ccw_virtio(self):
         """
         :avocado: tags=arch:s390x
-        :avocado: tags=machine:s390_ccw_virtio
+        :avocado: tags=machine:s390-ccw-virtio
         """
         kernel_url = ('https://archives.fedoraproject.org/pub/archive'
                       '/fedora-secondary/releases/29/Everything/s390x/os/images'
@@ -422,7 +411,6 @@ class BootLinuxConsole(Test):
         kernel_hash = 'e8e8439103ef8053418ef062644ffd46a7919313'
         kernel_path = self.fetch_asset(kernel_url, asset_hash=kernel_hash)
 
-        self.vm.set_machine('s390-ccw-virtio')
         self.vm.set_console()
         kernel_command_line = self.KERNEL_COMMON_COMMAND_LINE + 'console=sclp0'
         self.vm.add_args('-nodefaults',
@@ -444,7 +432,6 @@ class BootLinuxConsole(Test):
 
         uncompressed_kernel = archive.uncompress(kernel_path, self.workdir)
 
-        self.vm.set_machine('clipper')
         self.vm.set_console()
         kernel_command_line = self.KERNEL_COMMON_COMMAND_LINE + 'console=ttyS0'
         self.vm.add_args('-vga', 'std',
@@ -465,7 +452,6 @@ class BootLinuxConsole(Test):
         kernel_hash = '3fe04abfc852b66653b8c3c897a59a689270bc77'
         kernel_path = self.fetch_asset(kernel_url, asset_hash=kernel_hash)
 
-        self.vm.set_machine('pseries')
         self.vm.set_console()
         kernel_command_line = self.KERNEL_COMMON_COMMAND_LINE + 'console=hvc0'
         self.vm.add_args('-kernel', kernel_path,
@@ -479,17 +465,14 @@ class BootLinuxConsole(Test):
         :avocado: tags=arch:m68k
         :avocado: tags=machine:q800
         """
-        deb_url = ('http://ftp.ports.debian.org/debian-ports/pool-m68k/main'
+        deb_url = ('https://snapshot.debian.org/archive/debian-ports'
+                   '/20191021T083923Z/pool-m68k/main'
                    '/l/linux/kernel-image-5.3.0-1-m68k-di_5.3.7-1_m68k.udeb')
         deb_hash = '044954bb9be4160a3ce81f8bc1b5e856b75cccd1'
-        try:
-            deb_path = self.fetch_asset(deb_url, asset_hash=deb_hash)
-        except OSError as exp:
-            self.cancel(exp)
+        deb_path = self.fetch_asset(deb_url, asset_hash=deb_hash)
         kernel_path = self.extract_from_deb(deb_path,
                                             '/boot/vmlinux-5.3.0-1-m68k')
 
-        self.vm.set_machine('q800')
         self.vm.set_console()
         kernel_command_line = (self.KERNEL_COMMON_COMMAND_LINE +
                                'console=ttyS0 vga=off')
diff --git a/tests/acceptance/cpu_queries.py b/tests/acceptance/cpu_queries.py
index af47d2795a..293dccb89a 100644
--- a/tests/acceptance/cpu_queries.py
+++ b/tests/acceptance/cpu_queries.py
@@ -20,8 +20,8 @@ class QueryCPUModelExpansion(Test):
     def test(self):
         """
         :avocado: tags=arch:x86_64
+        :avocado: tags=machine:none
         """
-        self.vm.set_machine('none')
         self.vm.add_args('-S')
         self.vm.launch()
 
diff --git a/tests/acceptance/empty_cpu_model.py b/tests/acceptance/empty_cpu_model.py
index 3f4f663582..a1e59e45e4 100644
--- a/tests/acceptance/empty_cpu_model.py
+++ b/tests/acceptance/empty_cpu_model.py
@@ -7,13 +7,13 @@
 #
 # This work is licensed under the terms of the GNU GPL, version 2 or
 # later.  See the COPYING file in the top-level directory.
-import subprocess
 from avocado_qemu import Test
 
 class EmptyCPUModel(Test):
     def test(self):
-        cmd = [self.qemu_bin, '-S', '-display', 'none', '-machine', 'none', '-cpu', '']
-        r = subprocess.run(cmd, stderr=subprocess.PIPE, stdout=subprocess.PIPE)
-        self.assertEquals(r.returncode, 1, "QEMU exit code should be 1")
-        self.assertEquals(r.stdout, b'', "QEMU stdout should be empty")
-        self.assertNotEquals(r.stderr, b'', "QEMU stderr shouldn't be empty")
+        self.vm.add_args('-S', '-display', 'none', '-machine', 'none', '-cpu', '')
+        self.vm.set_qmp_monitor(enabled=False)
+        self.vm.launch()
+        self.vm.wait()
+        self.assertEquals(self.vm.exitcode(), 1, "QEMU exit code should be 1")
+        self.assertRegex(self.vm.get_log(), r'-cpu option cannot be empty')
diff --git a/tests/acceptance/linux_initrd.py b/tests/acceptance/linux_initrd.py
index c61d9826a4..a3e54d3fc9 100644
--- a/tests/acceptance/linux_initrd.py
+++ b/tests/acceptance/linux_initrd.py
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@
 
 import logging
 import tempfile
-from avocado.utils.process import run
 
 from avocado_qemu import Test
 
@@ -20,6 +19,7 @@ class LinuxInitrd(Test):
     Checks QEMU evaluates correctly the initrd file passed as -initrd option.
 
     :avocado: tags=arch:x86_64
+    :avocado: tags=machine:pc
     """
 
     timeout = 300
@@ -41,13 +41,15 @@ class LinuxInitrd(Test):
             initrd.seek(max_size)
             initrd.write(b'\0')
             initrd.flush()
-            cmd = "%s -kernel %s -initrd %s -m 4096" % (
-                  self.qemu_bin, kernel_path, initrd.name)
-            res = run(cmd, ignore_status=True)
-            self.assertEqual(res.exit_status, 1)
+            self.vm.add_args('-kernel', kernel_path, '-initrd', initrd.name,
+                             '-m', '4096')
+            self.vm.set_qmp_monitor(enabled=False)
+            self.vm.launch()
+            self.vm.wait()
+            self.assertEqual(self.vm.exitcode(), 1)
             expected_msg = r'.*initrd is too large.*max: \d+, need %s.*' % (
                 max_size + 1)
-            self.assertRegex(res.stderr_text, expected_msg)
+            self.assertRegex(self.vm.get_log(), expected_msg)
 
     def test_with_2gib_file_should_work_with_linux_v4_16(self):
         """
@@ -66,7 +68,6 @@ class LinuxInitrd(Test):
             initrd.write(b'\0')
             initrd.flush()
 
-            self.vm.set_machine('pc')
             self.vm.set_console()
             kernel_command_line = 'console=ttyS0'
             self.vm.add_args('-kernel', kernel_path,
diff --git a/tests/acceptance/linux_ssh_mips_malta.py b/tests/acceptance/linux_ssh_mips_malta.py
index 4db18de800..90d7f2f167 100644
--- a/tests/acceptance/linux_ssh_mips_malta.py
+++ b/tests/acceptance/linux_ssh_mips_malta.py
@@ -113,7 +113,6 @@ class LinuxSSH(Test):
         image_url, image_hash = self.get_image_info(endianess)
         image_path = self.fetch_asset(image_url, asset_hash=image_hash)
 
-        self.vm.set_machine('malta')
         self.vm.set_console()
         kernel_command_line = (self.KERNEL_COMMON_COMMAND_LINE
                                + 'console=ttyS0 root=/dev/sda1')
@@ -217,7 +216,6 @@ class LinuxSSH(Test):
     def test_mips_malta32eb_kernel3_2_0(self):
         """
         :avocado: tags=arch:mips
-        :avocado: tags=machine:malta
         :avocado: tags=endian:big
         :avocado: tags=device:pcnet32
         """
@@ -226,7 +224,6 @@ class LinuxSSH(Test):
     def test_mips_malta32el_kernel3_2_0(self):
         """
         :avocado: tags=arch:mipsel
-        :avocado: tags=machine:malta
         :avocado: tags=endian:little
         :avocado: tags=device:pcnet32
         """
@@ -235,7 +232,6 @@ class LinuxSSH(Test):
     def test_mips_malta64eb_kernel3_2_0(self):
         """
         :avocado: tags=arch:mips64
-        :avocado: tags=machine:malta
         :avocado: tags=endian:big
         :avocado: tags=device:pcnet32
         """
@@ -244,7 +240,6 @@ class LinuxSSH(Test):
     def test_mips_malta64el_kernel3_2_0(self):
         """
         :avocado: tags=arch:mips64el
-        :avocado: tags=machine:malta
         :avocado: tags=endian:little
         :avocado: tags=device:pcnet32
         """
diff --git a/tests/acceptance/machine_m68k_nextcube.py b/tests/acceptance/machine_m68k_nextcube.py
index fcd2c58ee7..32cf571f94 100644
--- a/tests/acceptance/machine_m68k_nextcube.py
+++ b/tests/acceptance/machine_m68k_nextcube.py
@@ -43,6 +43,11 @@ def tesseract_available(expected_version):
 
 
 class NextCubeMachine(Test):
+    """
+    :avocado: tags=arch:m68k
+    :avocado: tags=machine:next-cube
+    :avocado: tags=device:framebuffer
+    """
 
     timeout = 15
 
@@ -52,7 +57,6 @@ class NextCubeMachine(Test):
         rom_hash = 'b3534796abae238a0111299fc406a9349f7fee24'
         rom_path = self.fetch_asset(rom_url, asset_hash=rom_hash)
 
-        self.vm.set_machine('next-cube')
         self.vm.add_args('-bios', rom_path)
         self.vm.launch()
 
@@ -66,11 +70,6 @@ class NextCubeMachine(Test):
 
     @skipUnless(PIL_AVAILABLE, 'Python PIL not installed')
     def test_bootrom_framebuffer_size(self):
-        """
-        :avocado: tags=arch:m68k
-        :avocado: tags=machine:next_cube
-        :avocado: tags=device:framebuffer
-        """
         screenshot_path = os.path.join(self.workdir, "dump.png")
         self.check_bootrom_framebuffer(screenshot_path)
 
@@ -80,11 +79,6 @@ class NextCubeMachine(Test):
 
     @skipUnless(tesseract_available(3), 'tesseract v3 OCR tool not available')
     def test_bootrom_framebuffer_ocr_with_tesseract_v3(self):
-        """
-        :avocado: tags=arch:m68k
-        :avocado: tags=machine:next_cube
-        :avocado: tags=device:framebuffer
-        """
         screenshot_path = os.path.join(self.workdir, "dump.png")
         self.check_bootrom_framebuffer(screenshot_path)
 
@@ -101,11 +95,6 @@ class NextCubeMachine(Test):
     # that it is still alpha-level software.
     @skipUnless(tesseract_available(4), 'tesseract v4 OCR tool not available')
     def test_bootrom_framebuffer_ocr_with_tesseract_v4(self):
-        """
-        :avocado: tags=arch:m68k
-        :avocado: tags=machine:next_cube
-        :avocado: tags=device:framebuffer
-        """
         screenshot_path = os.path.join(self.workdir, "dump.png")
         self.check_bootrom_framebuffer(screenshot_path)
 
diff --git a/tests/acceptance/machine_sparc_leon3.py b/tests/acceptance/machine_sparc_leon3.py
index 298f1e25e6..f77e210ccb 100644
--- a/tests/acceptance/machine_sparc_leon3.py
+++ b/tests/acceptance/machine_sparc_leon3.py
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ class Leon3Machine(Test):
     def test_leon3_helenos_uimage(self):
         """
         :avocado: tags=arch:sparc
-        :avocado: tags=machine:leon3
+        :avocado: tags=machine:leon3_generic
         :avocado: tags=binfmt:uimage
         """
         kernel_url = ('http://www.helenos.org/releases/'
@@ -24,7 +24,6 @@ class Leon3Machine(Test):
         kernel_hash = 'a88c9cfdb8430c66650e5290a08765f9bf049a30'
         kernel_path = self.fetch_asset(kernel_url, asset_hash=kernel_hash)
 
-        self.vm.set_machine('leon3_generic')
         self.vm.set_console()
         self.vm.add_args('-kernel', kernel_path)
 
diff --git a/tests/acceptance/ppc_prep_40p.py b/tests/acceptance/ppc_prep_40p.py
index 6f507fb0a6..b27572f212 100644
--- a/tests/acceptance/ppc_prep_40p.py
+++ b/tests/acceptance/ppc_prep_40p.py
@@ -39,7 +39,6 @@ class IbmPrep40pMachine(Test):
         drive_hash = 'dbcfc09912e71bd5f0d82c7c1ee43082fb596ceb'
         drive_path = self.fetch_asset(drive_url, asset_hash=drive_hash)
 
-        self.vm.set_machine('40p')
         self.vm.set_console()
         self.vm.add_args('-bios', bios_path,
                          '-fda', drive_path)
@@ -53,7 +52,6 @@ class IbmPrep40pMachine(Test):
         :avocado: tags=arch:ppc
         :avocado: tags=machine:40p
         """
-        self.vm.set_machine('40p')
         self.vm.set_console()
         self.vm.add_args('-m', '192') # test fw_cfg
 
@@ -73,7 +71,6 @@ class IbmPrep40pMachine(Test):
         drive_hash = 'ac6fa2707d888b36d6fa64de6e7fe48e'
         drive_path = self.fetch_asset(drive_url, asset_hash=drive_hash,
                                       algorithm='md5')
-        self.vm.set_machine('40p')
         self.vm.set_console()
         self.vm.add_args('-cdrom', drive_path,
                          '-boot', 'd')
diff --git a/tests/acceptance/x86_cpu_model_versions.py b/tests/acceptance/x86_cpu_model_versions.py
index 5fc9ca4bc6..90558d9a71 100644
--- a/tests/acceptance/x86_cpu_model_versions.py
+++ b/tests/acceptance/x86_cpu_model_versions.py
@@ -25,10 +25,6 @@
 import avocado_qemu
 import re
 
-def get_cpu_prop(vm, prop):
-    cpu_path = vm.command('query-cpus')[0].get('qom_path')
-    return vm.command('qom-get', path=cpu_path, property=prop)
-
 class X86CPUModelAliases(avocado_qemu.Test):
     """
     Validation of PC CPU model versions and CPU model aliases
@@ -79,12 +75,15 @@ class X86CPUModelAliases(avocado_qemu.Test):
                          "EPYC-IBPB shouldn't be versioned")
 
     def test_4_0_alias_compatibility(self):
-        """Check if pc-*-4.0 unversioned CPU model won't be reported as aliases"""
+        """
+        Check if pc-*-4.0 unversioned CPU model won't be reported as aliases
+
+        :avocado: tags=machine:pc-i440fx-4.0
+        """
         # pc-*-4.0 won't expose non-versioned CPU models as aliases
         # We do this to help management software to keep compatibility
         # with older QEMU versions that didn't have the versioned CPU model
         self.vm.add_args('-S')
-        self.vm.set_machine('pc-i440fx-4.0')
         self.vm.launch()
         cpus = dict((m['name'], m) for m in self.vm.command('query-cpu-definitions'))
 
@@ -109,9 +108,12 @@ class X86CPUModelAliases(avocado_qemu.Test):
             self.assertNotIn('alias-of', c, "%s shouldn't be an alias" % (name))
 
     def test_4_1_alias(self):
-        """Check if unversioned CPU model is an alias pointing to right version"""
+        """
+        Check if unversioned CPU model is an alias pointing to right version
+
+        :avocado: tags=machine:pc-i440fx-4.1
+        """
         self.vm.add_args('-S')
-        self.vm.set_machine('pc-i440fx-4.1')
         self.vm.launch()
 
         cpus = dict((m['name'], m) for m in self.vm.command('query-cpu-definitions'))
@@ -211,9 +213,12 @@ class X86CPUModelAliases(avocado_qemu.Test):
         self.validate_aliases(cpus)
 
     def test_none_alias(self):
-        """Check if unversioned CPU model is an alias pointing to some version"""
+        """
+        Check if unversioned CPU model is an alias pointing to some version
+
+        :avocado: tags=machine:none
+        """
         self.vm.add_args('-S')
-        self.vm.set_machine('none')
         self.vm.launch()
 
         cpus = dict((m['name'], m) for m in self.vm.command('query-cpu-definitions'))
@@ -241,78 +246,90 @@ class CascadelakeArchCapabilities(avocado_qemu.Test):
 
     :avocado: tags=arch:x86_64
     """
+    def get_cpu_prop(self, prop):
+        cpu_path = self.vm.command('query-cpus')[0].get('qom_path')
+        return self.vm.command('qom-get', path=cpu_path, property=prop)
+
     def test_4_1(self):
+        """
+        :avocado: tags=machine:pc-i440fx-4.1
+        """
         # machine-type only:
-        vm = self.get_vm()
-        vm.add_args('-S')
-        vm.set_machine('pc-i440fx-4.1')
-        vm.add_args('-cpu', 'Cascadelake-Server,x-force-features=on,check=off,enforce=off')
-        vm.launch()
-        self.assertFalse(get_cpu_prop(vm, 'arch-capabilities'),
+        self.vm.add_args('-S')
+        self.vm.add_args('-cpu', 'Cascadelake-Server,x-force-features=on,check=off,enforce=off')
+        self.vm.launch()
+        self.assertFalse(self.get_cpu_prop('arch-capabilities'),
                          'pc-i440fx-4.1 + Cascadelake-Server should not have arch-capabilities')
 
     def test_4_0(self):
-        vm = self.get_vm()
-        vm.add_args('-S')
-        vm.set_machine('pc-i440fx-4.0')
-        vm.add_args('-cpu', 'Cascadelake-Server,x-force-features=on,check=off,enforce=off')
-        vm.launch()
-        self.assertFalse(get_cpu_prop(vm, 'arch-capabilities'),
+        """
+        :avocado: tags=machine:pc-i440fx-4.0
+        """
+        self.vm.add_args('-S')
+        self.vm.add_args('-cpu', 'Cascadelake-Server,x-force-features=on,check=off,enforce=off')
+        self.vm.launch()
+        self.assertFalse(self.get_cpu_prop('arch-capabilities'),
                          'pc-i440fx-4.0 + Cascadelake-Server should not have arch-capabilities')
 
     def test_set_4_0(self):
+        """
+        :avocado: tags=machine:pc-i440fx-4.0
+        """
         # command line must override machine-type if CPU model is not versioned:
-        vm = self.get_vm()
-        vm.add_args('-S')
-        vm.set_machine('pc-i440fx-4.0')
-        vm.add_args('-cpu', 'Cascadelake-Server,x-force-features=on,check=off,enforce=off,+arch-capabilities')
-        vm.launch()
-        self.assertTrue(get_cpu_prop(vm, 'arch-capabilities'),
+        self.vm.add_args('-S')
+        self.vm.add_args('-cpu', 'Cascadelake-Server,x-force-features=on,check=off,enforce=off,+arch-capabilities')
+        self.vm.launch()
+        self.assertTrue(self.get_cpu_prop('arch-capabilities'),
                         'pc-i440fx-4.0 + Cascadelake-Server,+arch-capabilities should have arch-capabilities')
 
     def test_unset_4_1(self):
-        vm = self.get_vm()
-        vm.add_args('-S')
-        vm.set_machine('pc-i440fx-4.1')
-        vm.add_args('-cpu', 'Cascadelake-Server,x-force-features=on,check=off,enforce=off,-arch-capabilities')
-        vm.launch()
-        self.assertFalse(get_cpu_prop(vm, 'arch-capabilities'),
+        """
+        :avocado: tags=machine:pc-i440fx-4.1
+        """
+        self.vm.add_args('-S')
+        self.vm.add_args('-cpu', 'Cascadelake-Server,x-force-features=on,check=off,enforce=off,-arch-capabilities')
+        self.vm.launch()
+        self.assertFalse(self.get_cpu_prop('arch-capabilities'),
                          'pc-i440fx-4.1 + Cascadelake-Server,-arch-capabilities should not have arch-capabilities')
 
     def test_v1_4_0(self):
+        """
+        :avocado: tags=machine:pc-i440fx-4.0
+        """
         # versioned CPU model overrides machine-type:
-        vm = self.get_vm()
-        vm.add_args('-S')
-        vm.set_machine('pc-i440fx-4.0')
-        vm.add_args('-cpu', 'Cascadelake-Server-v1,x-force-features=on,check=off,enforce=off')
-        vm.launch()
-        self.assertFalse(get_cpu_prop(vm, 'arch-capabilities'),
+        self.vm.add_args('-S')
+        self.vm.add_args('-cpu', 'Cascadelake-Server-v1,x-force-features=on,check=off,enforce=off')
+        self.vm.launch()
+        self.assertFalse(self.get_cpu_prop('arch-capabilities'),
                          'pc-i440fx-4.0 + Cascadelake-Server-v1 should not have arch-capabilities')
 
     def test_v2_4_0(self):
-        vm = self.get_vm()
-        vm.add_args('-S')
-        vm.set_machine('pc-i440fx-4.0')
-        vm.add_args('-cpu', 'Cascadelake-Server-v2,x-force-features=on,check=off,enforce=off')
-        vm.launch()
-        self.assertTrue(get_cpu_prop(vm, 'arch-capabilities'),
-                         'pc-i440fx-4.0 + Cascadelake-Server-v2 should have arch-capabilities')
+        """
+        :avocado: tags=machine:pc-i440fx-4.0
+        """
+        self.vm.add_args('-S')
+        self.vm.add_args('-cpu', 'Cascadelake-Server-v2,x-force-features=on,check=off,enforce=off')
+        self.vm.launch()
+        self.assertTrue(self.get_cpu_prop('arch-capabilities'),
+                        'pc-i440fx-4.0 + Cascadelake-Server-v2 should have arch-capabilities')
 
     def test_v1_set_4_0(self):
+        """
+        :avocado: tags=machine:pc-i440fx-4.0
+        """
         # command line must override machine-type and versioned CPU model:
-        vm = self.get_vm()
-        vm.add_args('-S')
-        vm.set_machine('pc-i440fx-4.0')
-        vm.add_args('-cpu', 'Cascadelake-Server-v1,x-force-features=on,check=off,enforce=off,+arch-capabilities')
-        vm.launch()
-        self.assertTrue(get_cpu_prop(vm, 'arch-capabilities'),
-                         'pc-i440fx-4.0 + Cascadelake-Server-v1,+arch-capabilities should have arch-capabilities')
+        self.vm.add_args('-S')
+        self.vm.add_args('-cpu', 'Cascadelake-Server-v1,x-force-features=on,check=off,enforce=off,+arch-capabilities')
+        self.vm.launch()
+        self.assertTrue(self.get_cpu_prop('arch-capabilities'),
+                        'pc-i440fx-4.0 + Cascadelake-Server-v1,+arch-capabilities should have arch-capabilities')
 
     def test_v2_unset_4_1(self):
-        vm = self.get_vm()
-        vm.add_args('-S')
-        vm.set_machine('pc-i440fx-4.1')
-        vm.add_args('-cpu', 'Cascadelake-Server-v2,x-force-features=on,check=off,enforce=off,-arch-capabilities')
-        vm.launch()
-        self.assertFalse(get_cpu_prop(vm, 'arch-capabilities'),
+        """
+        :avocado: tags=machine:pc-i440fx-4.1
+        """
+        self.vm.add_args('-S')
+        self.vm.add_args('-cpu', 'Cascadelake-Server-v2,x-force-features=on,check=off,enforce=off,-arch-capabilities')
+        self.vm.launch()
+        self.assertFalse(self.get_cpu_prop('arch-capabilities'),
                          'pc-i440fx-4.1 + Cascadelake-Server-v2,-arch-capabilities should not have arch-capabilities')
diff --git a/tests/vm/basevm.py b/tests/vm/basevm.py
index 0b8c1b2657..53b9515ee2 100755
--- a/tests/vm/basevm.py
+++ b/tests/vm/basevm.py
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ import logging
 import time
 import datetime
 sys.path.append(os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), '..', '..', 'python'))
-from qemu import kvm_available
+from qemu.accel import kvm_available
 from qemu.machine import QEMUMachine
 import subprocess
 import hashlib