diff --git a/hw/riscv/boot.c b/hw/riscv/boot.c
index 7fee98d2f8..027303d2a3 100644
--- a/hw/riscv/boot.c
+++ b/hw/riscv/boot.c
@@ -114,12 +114,13 @@ target_ulong riscv_load_firmware(const char *firmware_filename,
     exit(1);
 }
 
-target_ulong riscv_load_kernel(const char *kernel_filename)
+target_ulong riscv_load_kernel(const char *kernel_filename, symbol_fn_t sym_cb)
 {
     uint64_t kernel_entry, kernel_high;
 
-    if (load_elf(kernel_filename, NULL, NULL, NULL,
-                 &kernel_entry, NULL, &kernel_high, 0, EM_RISCV, 1, 0) > 0) {
+    if (load_elf_ram_sym(kernel_filename, NULL, NULL, NULL,
+                         &kernel_entry, NULL, &kernel_high, 0,
+                         EM_RISCV, 1, 0, NULL, true, sym_cb) > 0) {
         return kernel_entry;
     }
 
diff --git a/hw/riscv/sifive_e.c b/hw/riscv/sifive_e.c
index 0f9d641a0e..8a6b0348df 100644
--- a/hw/riscv/sifive_e.c
+++ b/hw/riscv/sifive_e.c
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ static void riscv_sifive_e_init(MachineState *machine)
                           memmap[SIFIVE_E_MROM].base, &address_space_memory);
 
     if (machine->kernel_filename) {
-        riscv_load_kernel(machine->kernel_filename);
+        riscv_load_kernel(machine->kernel_filename, NULL);
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/hw/riscv/sifive_u.c b/hw/riscv/sifive_u.c
index 9552abf4dd..0140e95732 100644
--- a/hw/riscv/sifive_u.c
+++ b/hw/riscv/sifive_u.c
@@ -344,7 +344,8 @@ static void riscv_sifive_u_init(MachineState *machine)
                                  memmap[SIFIVE_U_DRAM].base);
 
     if (machine->kernel_filename) {
-        uint64_t kernel_entry = riscv_load_kernel(machine->kernel_filename);
+        uint64_t kernel_entry = riscv_load_kernel(machine->kernel_filename,
+                                                  NULL);
 
         if (machine->initrd_filename) {
             hwaddr start;
diff --git a/hw/riscv/spike.c b/hw/riscv/spike.c
index 8bbffbcd0f..8823681783 100644
--- a/hw/riscv/spike.c
+++ b/hw/riscv/spike.c
@@ -184,7 +184,7 @@ static void spike_board_init(MachineState *machine)
                                 mask_rom);
 
     if (machine->kernel_filename) {
-        riscv_load_kernel(machine->kernel_filename);
+        riscv_load_kernel(machine->kernel_filename, htif_symbol_callback);
     }
 
     /* reset vector */
@@ -273,7 +273,7 @@ static void spike_v1_10_0_board_init(MachineState *machine)
                                 mask_rom);
 
     if (machine->kernel_filename) {
-        riscv_load_kernel(machine->kernel_filename);
+        riscv_load_kernel(machine->kernel_filename, htif_symbol_callback);
     }
 
     /* reset vector */
@@ -359,7 +359,7 @@ static void spike_v1_09_1_board_init(MachineState *machine)
                                 mask_rom);
 
     if (machine->kernel_filename) {
-        riscv_load_kernel(machine->kernel_filename);
+        riscv_load_kernel(machine->kernel_filename, htif_symbol_callback);
     }
 
     /* reset vector */
diff --git a/hw/riscv/virt.c b/hw/riscv/virt.c
index 74f2dce81c..c44b865959 100644
--- a/hw/riscv/virt.c
+++ b/hw/riscv/virt.c
@@ -479,7 +479,8 @@ static void riscv_virt_board_init(MachineState *machine)
                                  memmap[VIRT_DRAM].base);
 
     if (machine->kernel_filename) {
-        uint64_t kernel_entry = riscv_load_kernel(machine->kernel_filename);
+        uint64_t kernel_entry = riscv_load_kernel(machine->kernel_filename,
+                                                  NULL);
 
         if (machine->initrd_filename) {
             hwaddr start;
diff --git a/include/hw/riscv/boot.h b/include/hw/riscv/boot.h
index 66075d0e57..df80051fbc 100644
--- a/include/hw/riscv/boot.h
+++ b/include/hw/riscv/boot.h
@@ -28,7 +28,8 @@ void riscv_find_and_load_firmware(MachineState *machine,
 char *riscv_find_firmware(const char *firmware_filename);
 target_ulong riscv_load_firmware(const char *firmware_filename,
                                  hwaddr firmware_load_addr);
-target_ulong riscv_load_kernel(const char *kernel_filename);
+target_ulong riscv_load_kernel(const char *kernel_filename,
+                               symbol_fn_t sym_cb);
 hwaddr riscv_load_initrd(const char *filename, uint64_t mem_size,
                          uint64_t kernel_entry, hwaddr *start);