diff --git a/tests/hwsim/vm/vm-run.sh b/tests/hwsim/vm/vm-run.sh
index b63a76c08..dd245d4ff 100755
--- a/tests/hwsim/vm/vm-run.sh
+++ b/tests/hwsim/vm/vm-run.sh
@@ -25,6 +25,9 @@ KVMOUT=ttyS1
 # extra KVM arguments, e.g., -s for gdbserver
 #KVMARGS=-s
 
+# number of channels each hwsim device supports
+CHANNELS=1
+
 test -f vm-config && . vm-config
 
 if [ -z "$KERNEL" ] && [ -z "$KERNELDIR" ] ; then
@@ -48,4 +51,4 @@ exec kvm \
 	-fsdev local,security_model=none,id=fsdev-logs,path="$LOGDIR",writeout=immediate \
 	-device virtio-9p-pci,id=fs-logs,fsdev=fsdev-logs,mount_tag=logshare \
 	-monitor null -serial stdio -serial file:$LOGDIR/console \
-	-append "mac80211_hwsim.radios=5 init=$CMD testdir=$TESTDIR console=$KVMOUT root=/dev/root rootflags=trans=virtio,version=9p2000.u ro rootfstype=9p EPATH=$EPATH ARGS=$*"
+	-append "mac80211_hwsim.channels=$CHANNELS mac80211_hwsim.radios=5 init=$CMD testdir=$TESTDIR console=$KVMOUT root=/dev/root rootflags=trans=virtio,version=9p2000.u ro rootfstype=9p EPATH=$EPATH ARGS=$*"