diff --git a/builder/qemu/builder.go b/builder/qemu/builder.go
index 301884ed0..127c1d5ed 100644
--- a/builder/qemu/builder.go
+++ b/builder/qemu/builder.go
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ var netDevice = map[string]bool{
 	"pcnet":      true,
 	"virtio":     true,
 	"virtio-net": true,
+	"virtio-net-pci": true,
 	"usb-net":    true,
 	"i82559a":    true,
 	"i82559b":    true,
@@ -255,9 +256,9 @@ func (b *Builder) Prepare(raws ...interface{}) ([]string, error) {
 			errs, errors.New("invalid format, only 'qcow2' or 'raw' are allowed"))
 	}
 
-	if !(b.config.Accelerator == "kvm" || b.config.Accelerator == "xen") {
+	if !(b.config.Accelerator == "kvm" || b.config.Accelerator == "xen" || b.config.Accelerator == "none") {
 		errs = packer.MultiErrorAppend(
-			errs, errors.New("invalid format, only 'kvm' or 'xen' are allowed"))
+			errs, errors.New("invalid format, only 'kvm' or 'xen' or 'none' are allowed"))
 	}
 
 	if _, ok := netDevice[b.config.NetDevice]; !ok {
diff --git a/builder/qemu/step_run.go b/builder/qemu/step_run.go
index 649ba63ee..176697670 100644
--- a/builder/qemu/step_run.go
+++ b/builder/qemu/step_run.go
@@ -61,23 +61,23 @@ func getCommandArgs(bootDrive string, state multistep.StateBag) ([]string, error
 	sshHostPort := state.Get("sshHostPort").(uint)
 	ui := state.Get("ui").(packer.Ui)
 
-	guiArgument := "sdl"
 	vnc := fmt.Sprintf("0.0.0.0:%d", vncPort-5900)
 	vmName := config.VMName
 	imgPath := filepath.Join(config.OutputDir,
 		fmt.Sprintf("%s.%s", vmName, strings.ToLower(config.Format)))
 
+	defaultArgs := make(map[string]string)
+
 	if config.Headless == true {
 		ui.Message("WARNING: The VM will be started in headless mode, as configured.\n" +
 			"In headless mode, errors during the boot sequence or OS setup\n" +
 			"won't be easily visible. Use at your own discretion.")
-		guiArgument = "none"
+	} else {
+		defaultArgs["-display"] = "sdl"
 	}
 
-	defaultArgs := make(map[string]string)
 	defaultArgs["-name"] = vmName
-	defaultArgs["-machine"] = fmt.Sprintf("type=%s,accel=%s", config.MachineType, config.Accelerator)
-	defaultArgs["-display"] = guiArgument
+	defaultArgs["-machine"] = fmt.Sprintf("type=%s", config.MachineType)
 	defaultArgs["-netdev"] = "user,id=user.0"
 	defaultArgs["-device"] = fmt.Sprintf("%s,netdev=user.0", config.NetDevice)
 	defaultArgs["-drive"] = fmt.Sprintf("file=%s,if=%s", imgPath, config.DiskInterface)
@@ -87,6 +87,14 @@ func getCommandArgs(bootDrive string, state multistep.StateBag) ([]string, error
 	defaultArgs["-redir"] = fmt.Sprintf("tcp:%v::22", sshHostPort)
 	defaultArgs["-vnc"] = vnc
 
+	// Append the accelerator to the machine type if it is specified
+	if config.Accelerator != "none" {
+		defaultArgs["-machine"] += fmt.Sprintf(",accel=%s", config.Accelerator)
+	} else {
+		ui.Message("WARNING: The VM will be started with no hardware acceleration.\n" +
+		"The installation may take considerably longer to finish.\n")
+	}
+
 	// Determine if we have a floppy disk to attach
 	if floppyPathRaw, ok := state.GetOk("floppy_path"); ok {
 		defaultArgs["-fda"] = floppyPathRaw.(string)
diff --git a/website/source/docs/builders/qemu.html.markdown b/website/source/docs/builders/qemu.html.markdown
index c81e77a6c..c9cac0a8a 100644
--- a/website/source/docs/builders/qemu.html.markdown
+++ b/website/source/docs/builders/qemu.html.markdown
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ each category, the available options are alphabetized and described.
 ### Optional:
 
 * `accelerator` (string) - The accelerator type to use when running the VM.
-  This may have a value of either "kvm" or "xen" and you must have that
+  This may have a value of either "none", "kvm", or "xen" and you must have that
   support in on the machine on which you run the builder.
 
 * `boot_command` (array of strings) - This is an array of commands to type