diff --git a/src/xenconfig/xen_common.c b/src/xenconfig/xen_common.c
index 0a9958711f..6c27936f71 100644
--- a/src/xenconfig/xen_common.c
+++ b/src/xenconfig/xen_common.c
@@ -1098,9 +1098,21 @@ xenParseGeneralMeta(virConfPtr conf, virDomainDefPtr def, virCapsPtr caps)
     if (xenConfigGetUUID(conf, "uuid", def->uuid) < 0)
         goto out;
 
-    if ((xenConfigGetString(conf, "builder", &str, "linux") == 0) &&
-        STREQ(str, "hvm"))
-        hvm = 1;
+    if (xenConfigGetString(conf, "type", &str, NULL) == 0 && str) {
+        if (STREQ(str, "pv")) {
+            hvm = 0;
+        } else if (STREQ(str, "hvm")) {
+            hvm = 1;
+        } else {
+            virReportError(VIR_ERR_CONFIG_UNSUPPORTED,
+                           _("type %s is not supported"), str);
+            return -1;
+        }
+    } else {
+        if ((xenConfigGetString(conf, "builder", &str, "linux") == 0) &&
+            STREQ(str, "hvm"))
+            hvm = 1;
+    }
 
     def->os.type = (hvm ? VIR_DOMAIN_OSTYPE_HVM : VIR_DOMAIN_OSTYPE_XEN);
 
diff --git a/tests/xlconfigdata/test-fullvirt-type.cfg b/tests/xlconfigdata/test-fullvirt-type.cfg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..f8ecc2e190
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/xlconfigdata/test-fullvirt-type.cfg
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+name = "XenGuest2"
+uuid = "c7a5fdb2-cdaf-9455-926a-d65c16db1809"
+maxmem = 579
+memory = 394
+vcpus = 1
+pae = 1
+acpi = 1
+apic = 1
+viridian = 0
+rtc_timeoffset = 0
+localtime = 0
+on_poweroff = "destroy"
+on_reboot = "restart"
+on_crash = "restart"
+device_model = "/usr/lib/xen/bin/qemu-system-i386"
+sdl = 0
+vnc = 0
+parallel = "none"
+serial = "none"
+type = "hvm"
+boot = "d"
diff --git a/tests/xlconfigdata/test-fullvirt-type.xml b/tests/xlconfigdata/test-fullvirt-type.xml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..da8e36001c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/xlconfigdata/test-fullvirt-type.xml
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+<domain type='xen'>
+  <name>XenGuest2</name>
+  <uuid>c7a5fdb2-cdaf-9455-926a-d65c16db1809</uuid>
+  <memory unit='KiB'>592896</memory>
+  <currentMemory unit='KiB'>403456</currentMemory>
+  <vcpu placement='static'>1</vcpu>
+  <os>
+    <type arch='x86_64' machine='xenfv'>hvm</type>
+    <loader type='rom'>/usr/lib/xen/boot/hvmloader</loader>
+    <boot dev='cdrom'/>
+  </os>
+  <features>
+    <acpi/>
+    <apic/>
+    <pae/>
+  </features>
+  <clock offset='variable' adjustment='0' basis='utc'/>
+  <on_poweroff>destroy</on_poweroff>
+  <on_reboot>restart</on_reboot>
+  <on_crash>restart</on_crash>
+  <devices>
+    <emulator>/usr/lib/xen/bin/qemu-system-i386</emulator>
+    <input type='mouse' bus='ps2'/>
+    <input type='keyboard' bus='ps2'/>
+    <memballoon model='xen'/>
+  </devices>
+</domain>
diff --git a/tests/xlconfigdata/test-paravirt-type.cfg b/tests/xlconfigdata/test-paravirt-type.cfg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..078db99e42
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/xlconfigdata/test-paravirt-type.cfg
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+name = "XenGuest2"
+uuid = "c7a5fdb2-cdaf-9455-926a-d65c16db1809"
+type = "pv"
+maxmem = 579
+memory = 394
+vcpus = 1
+localtime = 0
+on_poweroff = "destroy"
+on_reboot = "restart"
+on_crash = "restart"
+kernel = "/tmp/vmlinuz"
+ramdisk = "/tmp/initrd"
+cmdline = "root=/dev/xvda1 console=hvc0"
diff --git a/tests/xlconfigdata/test-paravirt-type.xml b/tests/xlconfigdata/test-paravirt-type.xml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..4357640b94
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/xlconfigdata/test-paravirt-type.xml
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+<domain type='xen'>
+  <name>XenGuest2</name>
+  <uuid>c7a5fdb2-cdaf-9455-926a-d65c16db1809</uuid>
+  <memory unit='KiB'>592896</memory>
+  <currentMemory unit='KiB'>403456</currentMemory>
+  <vcpu placement='static'>1</vcpu>
+  <os>
+    <type arch='x86_64' machine='xenpv'>linux</type>
+    <kernel>/tmp/vmlinuz</kernel>
+    <initrd>/tmp/initrd</initrd>
+    <cmdline>root=/dev/xvda1 console=hvc0</cmdline>
+  </os>
+  <clock offset='utc' adjustment='reset'/>
+  <on_poweroff>destroy</on_poweroff>
+  <on_reboot>restart</on_reboot>
+  <on_crash>restart</on_crash>
+  <devices>
+    <console type='pty'>
+      <target type='xen' port='0'/>
+    </console>
+    <input type='mouse' bus='xen'/>
+    <input type='keyboard' bus='xen'/>
+    <memballoon model='xen'/>
+  </devices>
+</domain>
diff --git a/tests/xlconfigtest.c b/tests/xlconfigtest.c
index b2e4591c3b..6e3267ebc9 100644
--- a/tests/xlconfigtest.c
+++ b/tests/xlconfigtest.c
@@ -279,6 +279,8 @@ mymain(void)
     DO_TEST_FORMAT("paravirt-cmdline-extra-root", false);
     DO_TEST_FORMAT("paravirt-cmdline-bogus-extra-root", false);
     DO_TEST("rbd-multihost-noauth");
+    DO_TEST_FORMAT("paravirt-type", false);
+    DO_TEST_FORMAT("fullvirt-type", false);
 
 #ifdef LIBXL_HAVE_DEVICE_CHANNEL
     DO_TEST("channel-pty");