diff --git a/qubes/tests/integ/grub.py b/qubes/tests/integ/grub.py
index 76f23d562..aa42f2bb6 100644
--- a/qubes/tests/integ/grub.py
+++ b/qubes/tests/integ/grub.py
@@ -157,7 +157,7 @@ def test_010_template_based_vm(self):
                      'grub-xen package not installed')
 class TC_40_PVGrub(GrubBase):
     virt_mode = 'pv'
-    kernel = 'pvgrub2'
+    kernel = None
 
     def setUp(self):
         if 'fedora' in self.template:
@@ -176,7 +176,7 @@ class TC_41_HVMGrub(GrubBase):
                      'grub2-xen-pvh package not installed')
 class TC_42_PVHGrub(GrubBase):
     virt_mode = 'pvh'
-    kernel = 'pvgrub2-pvh'
+    kernel = None
 
 def create_testcases_for_templates():
     yield from qubes.tests.create_testcases_for_templates('TC_40_PVGrub',
diff --git a/qubes/vm/qubesvm.py b/qubes/vm/qubesvm.py
index ab059a969..451610144 100644
--- a/qubes/vm/qubesvm.py
+++ b/qubes/vm/qubesvm.py
@@ -1188,9 +1188,6 @@ async def start(self, start_guid=True, notify_function=None,
                                 f'not available'
                             )
 
-                if self.virt_mode == 'pvh' and not self.kernel:
-                    raise qubes.exc.QubesException(
-                        'virt_mode PVH require kernel to be set')
                 await self.storage.verify()
 
                 if self.netvm is not None: