diff --git a/include/hw/core/cpu.h b/include/hw/core/cpu.h
index 1dfb788415..cd3fb70cb5 100644
--- a/include/hw/core/cpu.h
+++ b/include/hw/core/cpu.h
@@ -80,6 +80,9 @@ struct TCGCPUOps;
 /* see accel-cpu.h */
 struct AccelCPUClass;
 
+/* see sysemu-cpu-ops.h */
+struct SysemuCPUOps;
+
 /**
  * CPUClass:
  * @class_by_name: Callback to map -cpu command line model name to an
@@ -191,6 +194,9 @@ struct CPUClass {
     bool gdb_stop_before_watchpoint;
     struct AccelCPUClass *accel_cpu;
 
+    /* when system emulation is not available, this pointer is NULL */
+    const struct SysemuCPUOps *sysemu_ops;
+
     /* when TCG is not available, this pointer is NULL */
     struct TCGCPUOps *tcg_ops;
 
diff --git a/include/hw/core/sysemu-cpu-ops.h b/include/hw/core/sysemu-cpu-ops.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..e54a08ea25
--- /dev/null
+++ b/include/hw/core/sysemu-cpu-ops.h
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+/*
+ * CPU operations specific to system emulation
+ *
+ * Copyright (c) 2012 SUSE LINUX Products GmbH
+ *
+ * This work is licensed under the terms of the GNU GPL, version 2 or later.
+ * See the COPYING file in the top-level directory.
+ */
+
+#ifndef SYSEMU_CPU_OPS_H
+#define SYSEMU_CPU_OPS_H
+
+#include "hw/core/cpu.h"
+
+/*
+ * struct SysemuCPUOps: System operations specific to a CPU class
+ */
+typedef struct SysemuCPUOps {
+} SysemuCPUOps;
+
+#endif /* SYSEMU_CPU_OPS_H */
diff --git a/cpu.c b/cpu.c
index c57f4c302b..e3f9804f13 100644
--- a/cpu.c
+++ b/cpu.c
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@
 #ifdef CONFIG_USER_ONLY
 #include "qemu.h"
 #else
+#include "hw/core/sysemu-cpu-ops.h"
 #include "exec/address-spaces.h"
 #endif
 #include "sysemu/tcg.h"
diff --git a/target/alpha/cpu.c b/target/alpha/cpu.c
index 27192b62e2..0b12b2be81 100644
--- a/target/alpha/cpu.c
+++ b/target/alpha/cpu.c
@@ -206,6 +206,13 @@ static void alpha_cpu_initfn(Object *obj)
 #endif
 }
 
+#ifndef CONFIG_USER_ONLY
+#include "hw/core/sysemu-cpu-ops.h"
+
+static const struct SysemuCPUOps alpha_sysemu_ops = {
+};
+#endif
+
 #include "hw/core/tcg-cpu-ops.h"
 
 static struct TCGCPUOps alpha_tcg_ops = {
@@ -238,6 +245,7 @@ static void alpha_cpu_class_init(ObjectClass *oc, void *data)
 #ifndef CONFIG_USER_ONLY
     cc->get_phys_page_debug = alpha_cpu_get_phys_page_debug;
     dc->vmsd = &vmstate_alpha_cpu;
+    cc->sysemu_ops = &alpha_sysemu_ops;
 #endif
     cc->disas_set_info = alpha_cpu_disas_set_info;
 
diff --git a/target/arm/cpu.c b/target/arm/cpu.c
index bf82276611..0116e9d8e8 100644
--- a/target/arm/cpu.c
+++ b/target/arm/cpu.c
@@ -1944,6 +1944,13 @@ static gchar *arm_gdb_arch_name(CPUState *cs)
     return g_strdup("arm");
 }
 
+#ifndef CONFIG_USER_ONLY
+#include "hw/core/sysemu-cpu-ops.h"
+
+static const struct SysemuCPUOps arm_sysemu_ops = {
+};
+#endif
+
 #ifdef CONFIG_TCG
 static struct TCGCPUOps arm_tcg_ops = {
     .initialize = arm_translate_init,
@@ -1987,6 +1994,7 @@ static void arm_cpu_class_init(ObjectClass *oc, void *data)
     cc->virtio_is_big_endian = arm_cpu_virtio_is_big_endian;
     cc->write_elf64_note = arm_cpu_write_elf64_note;
     cc->write_elf32_note = arm_cpu_write_elf32_note;
+    cc->sysemu_ops = &arm_sysemu_ops;
 #endif
     cc->gdb_num_core_regs = 26;
     cc->gdb_core_xml_file = "arm-core.xml";
diff --git a/target/avr/cpu.c b/target/avr/cpu.c
index 3353bcb9fc..b95caf8c0f 100644
--- a/target/avr/cpu.c
+++ b/target/avr/cpu.c
@@ -184,6 +184,11 @@ static void avr_cpu_dump_state(CPUState *cs, FILE *f, int flags)
     qemu_fprintf(f, "\n");
 }
 
+#include "hw/core/sysemu-cpu-ops.h"
+
+static const struct SysemuCPUOps avr_sysemu_ops = {
+};
+
 #include "hw/core/tcg-cpu-ops.h"
 
 static struct TCGCPUOps avr_tcg_ops = {
@@ -214,6 +219,7 @@ static void avr_cpu_class_init(ObjectClass *oc, void *data)
     cc->memory_rw_debug = avr_cpu_memory_rw_debug;
     cc->get_phys_page_debug = avr_cpu_get_phys_page_debug;
     dc->vmsd = &vms_avr_cpu;
+    cc->sysemu_ops = &avr_sysemu_ops;
     cc->disas_set_info = avr_cpu_disas_set_info;
     cc->gdb_read_register = avr_cpu_gdb_read_register;
     cc->gdb_write_register = avr_cpu_gdb_write_register;
diff --git a/target/cris/cpu.c b/target/cris/cpu.c
index ed983380fc..f1095fcf5c 100644
--- a/target/cris/cpu.c
+++ b/target/cris/cpu.c
@@ -193,6 +193,13 @@ static void cris_cpu_initfn(Object *obj)
 #endif
 }
 
+#ifndef CONFIG_USER_ONLY
+#include "hw/core/sysemu-cpu-ops.h"
+
+static const struct SysemuCPUOps cris_sysemu_ops = {
+};
+#endif
+
 #include "hw/core/tcg-cpu-ops.h"
 
 static struct TCGCPUOps crisv10_tcg_ops = {
@@ -294,6 +301,7 @@ static void cris_cpu_class_init(ObjectClass *oc, void *data)
 #ifndef CONFIG_USER_ONLY
     cc->get_phys_page_debug = cris_cpu_get_phys_page_debug;
     dc->vmsd = &vmstate_cris_cpu;
+    cc->sysemu_ops = &cris_sysemu_ops;
 #endif
 
     cc->gdb_num_core_regs = 49;
diff --git a/target/hppa/cpu.c b/target/hppa/cpu.c
index d8fad52d1f..870130b159 100644
--- a/target/hppa/cpu.c
+++ b/target/hppa/cpu.c
@@ -131,6 +131,13 @@ static ObjectClass *hppa_cpu_class_by_name(const char *cpu_model)
     return object_class_by_name(TYPE_HPPA_CPU);
 }
 
+#ifndef CONFIG_USER_ONLY
+#include "hw/core/sysemu-cpu-ops.h"
+
+static const struct SysemuCPUOps hppa_sysemu_ops = {
+};
+#endif
+
 #include "hw/core/tcg-cpu-ops.h"
 
 static struct TCGCPUOps hppa_tcg_ops = {
@@ -163,6 +170,7 @@ static void hppa_cpu_class_init(ObjectClass *oc, void *data)
 #ifndef CONFIG_USER_ONLY
     cc->get_phys_page_debug = hppa_cpu_get_phys_page_debug;
     dc->vmsd = &vmstate_hppa_cpu;
+    cc->sysemu_ops = &hppa_sysemu_ops;
 #endif
     cc->disas_set_info = hppa_cpu_disas_set_info;
     cc->gdb_num_core_regs = 128;
diff --git a/target/i386/cpu.c b/target/i386/cpu.c
index 5a1c8ead8e..e422fab49a 100644
--- a/target/i386/cpu.c
+++ b/target/i386/cpu.c
@@ -6714,6 +6714,13 @@ static Property x86_cpu_properties[] = {
     DEFINE_PROP_END_OF_LIST()
 };
 
+#ifndef CONFIG_USER_ONLY
+#include "hw/core/sysemu-cpu-ops.h"
+
+static const struct SysemuCPUOps i386_sysemu_ops = {
+};
+#endif
+
 static void x86_cpu_common_class_init(ObjectClass *oc, void *data)
 {
     X86CPUClass *xcc = X86_CPU_CLASS(oc);
@@ -6750,6 +6757,7 @@ static void x86_cpu_common_class_init(ObjectClass *oc, void *data)
     cc->write_elf32_note = x86_cpu_write_elf32_note;
     cc->write_elf32_qemunote = x86_cpu_write_elf32_qemunote;
     cc->legacy_vmsd = &vmstate_x86_cpu;
+    cc->sysemu_ops = &i386_sysemu_ops;
 #endif /* !CONFIG_USER_ONLY */
 
     cc->gdb_arch_name = x86_gdb_arch_name;
diff --git a/target/m68k/cpu.c b/target/m68k/cpu.c
index a14874b4da..97ef3ae31c 100644
--- a/target/m68k/cpu.c
+++ b/target/m68k/cpu.c
@@ -503,6 +503,13 @@ static const VMStateDescription vmstate_m68k_cpu = {
 };
 #endif
 
+#ifndef CONFIG_USER_ONLY
+#include "hw/core/sysemu-cpu-ops.h"
+
+static const struct SysemuCPUOps m68k_sysemu_ops = {
+};
+#endif
+
 #include "hw/core/tcg-cpu-ops.h"
 
 static struct TCGCPUOps m68k_tcg_ops = {
@@ -535,6 +542,7 @@ static void m68k_cpu_class_init(ObjectClass *c, void *data)
 #if defined(CONFIG_SOFTMMU)
     cc->get_phys_page_debug = m68k_cpu_get_phys_page_debug;
     dc->vmsd = &vmstate_m68k_cpu;
+    cc->sysemu_ops = &m68k_sysemu_ops;
 #endif
     cc->disas_set_info = m68k_cpu_disas_set_info;
 
diff --git a/target/microblaze/cpu.c b/target/microblaze/cpu.c
index 433ba20203..96f221ff71 100644
--- a/target/microblaze/cpu.c
+++ b/target/microblaze/cpu.c
@@ -352,6 +352,13 @@ static ObjectClass *mb_cpu_class_by_name(const char *cpu_model)
     return object_class_by_name(TYPE_MICROBLAZE_CPU);
 }
 
+#ifndef CONFIG_USER_ONLY
+#include "hw/core/sysemu-cpu-ops.h"
+
+static const struct SysemuCPUOps mb_sysemu_ops = {
+};
+#endif
+
 #include "hw/core/tcg-cpu-ops.h"
 
 static struct TCGCPUOps mb_tcg_ops = {
@@ -388,6 +395,7 @@ static void mb_cpu_class_init(ObjectClass *oc, void *data)
 #ifndef CONFIG_USER_ONLY
     cc->get_phys_page_attrs_debug = mb_cpu_get_phys_page_attrs_debug;
     dc->vmsd = &vmstate_mb_cpu;
+    cc->sysemu_ops = &mb_sysemu_ops;
 #endif
     device_class_set_props(dc, mb_properties);
     cc->gdb_num_core_regs = 32 + 27;
diff --git a/target/mips/cpu.c b/target/mips/cpu.c
index eba56ac899..9a8c484cb4 100644
--- a/target/mips/cpu.c
+++ b/target/mips/cpu.c
@@ -521,6 +521,13 @@ static Property mips_cpu_properties[] = {
     DEFINE_PROP_END_OF_LIST()
 };
 
+#ifndef CONFIG_USER_ONLY
+#include "hw/core/sysemu-cpu-ops.h"
+
+static const struct SysemuCPUOps mips_sysemu_ops = {
+};
+#endif
+
 #ifdef CONFIG_TCG
 #include "hw/core/tcg-cpu-ops.h"
 /*
@@ -562,6 +569,7 @@ static void mips_cpu_class_init(ObjectClass *c, void *data)
 #ifndef CONFIG_USER_ONLY
     cc->get_phys_page_debug = mips_cpu_get_phys_page_debug;
     cc->legacy_vmsd = &vmstate_mips_cpu;
+    cc->sysemu_ops = &mips_sysemu_ops;
 #endif
     cc->disas_set_info = mips_cpu_disas_set_info;
     cc->gdb_num_core_regs = 73;
diff --git a/target/nios2/cpu.c b/target/nios2/cpu.c
index e9c9fc3a38..cb04b04d24 100644
--- a/target/nios2/cpu.c
+++ b/target/nios2/cpu.c
@@ -207,6 +207,13 @@ static Property nios2_properties[] = {
     DEFINE_PROP_END_OF_LIST(),
 };
 
+#ifndef CONFIG_USER_ONLY
+#include "hw/core/sysemu-cpu-ops.h"
+
+static const struct SysemuCPUOps nios2_sysemu_ops = {
+};
+#endif
+
 #include "hw/core/tcg-cpu-ops.h"
 
 static struct TCGCPUOps nios2_tcg_ops = {
@@ -238,6 +245,7 @@ static void nios2_cpu_class_init(ObjectClass *oc, void *data)
     cc->disas_set_info = nios2_cpu_disas_set_info;
 #ifndef CONFIG_USER_ONLY
     cc->get_phys_page_debug = nios2_cpu_get_phys_page_debug;
+    cc->sysemu_ops = &nios2_sysemu_ops;
 #endif
     cc->gdb_read_register = nios2_cpu_gdb_read_register;
     cc->gdb_write_register = nios2_cpu_gdb_write_register;
diff --git a/target/openrisc/cpu.c b/target/openrisc/cpu.c
index 2c64842f46..12d9173043 100644
--- a/target/openrisc/cpu.c
+++ b/target/openrisc/cpu.c
@@ -174,6 +174,13 @@ static void openrisc_any_initfn(Object *obj)
                       | (IMMUCFGR_NTS & (ctz32(TLB_SIZE) << 2));
 }
 
+#ifndef CONFIG_USER_ONLY
+#include "hw/core/sysemu-cpu-ops.h"
+
+static const struct SysemuCPUOps openrisc_sysemu_ops = {
+};
+#endif
+
 #include "hw/core/tcg-cpu-ops.h"
 
 static struct TCGCPUOps openrisc_tcg_ops = {
@@ -205,6 +212,7 @@ static void openrisc_cpu_class_init(ObjectClass *oc, void *data)
 #ifndef CONFIG_USER_ONLY
     cc->get_phys_page_debug = openrisc_cpu_get_phys_page_debug;
     dc->vmsd = &vmstate_openrisc_cpu;
+    cc->sysemu_ops = &openrisc_sysemu_ops;
 #endif
     cc->gdb_num_core_regs = 32 + 3;
     cc->disas_set_info = openrisc_disas_set_info;
diff --git a/target/ppc/cpu_init.c b/target/ppc/cpu_init.c
index 668fd141db..302b9b92a5 100644
--- a/target/ppc/cpu_init.c
+++ b/target/ppc/cpu_init.c
@@ -9263,6 +9263,13 @@ static Property ppc_cpu_properties[] = {
     DEFINE_PROP_END_OF_LIST(),
 };
 
+#ifndef CONFIG_USER_ONLY
+#include "hw/core/sysemu-cpu-ops.h"
+
+static const struct SysemuCPUOps ppc_sysemu_ops = {
+};
+#endif
+
 #ifdef CONFIG_TCG
 #include "hw/core/tcg-cpu-ops.h"
 
@@ -9306,6 +9313,7 @@ static void ppc_cpu_class_init(ObjectClass *oc, void *data)
 #ifndef CONFIG_USER_ONLY
     cc->get_phys_page_debug = ppc_cpu_get_phys_page_debug;
     cc->legacy_vmsd = &vmstate_ppc_cpu;
+    cc->sysemu_ops = &ppc_sysemu_ops;
 #endif
 #if defined(CONFIG_SOFTMMU)
     cc->write_elf64_note = ppc64_cpu_write_elf64_note;
diff --git a/target/riscv/cpu.c b/target/riscv/cpu.c
index 16510da259..b2b4a0baf4 100644
--- a/target/riscv/cpu.c
+++ b/target/riscv/cpu.c
@@ -596,6 +596,13 @@ static const char *riscv_gdb_get_dynamic_xml(CPUState *cs, const char *xmlname)
     return NULL;
 }
 
+#ifndef CONFIG_USER_ONLY
+#include "hw/core/sysemu-cpu-ops.h"
+
+static const struct SysemuCPUOps riscv_sysemu_ops = {
+};
+#endif
+
 #include "hw/core/tcg-cpu-ops.h"
 
 static struct TCGCPUOps riscv_tcg_ops = {
@@ -639,6 +646,7 @@ static void riscv_cpu_class_init(ObjectClass *c, void *data)
 #ifndef CONFIG_USER_ONLY
     cc->get_phys_page_debug = riscv_cpu_get_phys_page_debug;
     cc->legacy_vmsd = &vmstate_riscv_cpu;
+    cc->sysemu_ops = &riscv_sysemu_ops;
     cc->write_elf64_note = riscv_cpu_write_elf64_note;
     cc->write_elf32_note = riscv_cpu_write_elf32_note;
 #endif
diff --git a/target/rx/cpu.c b/target/rx/cpu.c
index 7ac6618b26..98e6596158 100644
--- a/target/rx/cpu.c
+++ b/target/rx/cpu.c
@@ -173,6 +173,13 @@ static void rx_cpu_init(Object *obj)
     qdev_init_gpio_in(DEVICE(cpu), rx_cpu_set_irq, 2);
 }
 
+#ifndef CONFIG_USER_ONLY
+#include "hw/core/sysemu-cpu-ops.h"
+
+static const struct SysemuCPUOps rx_sysemu_ops = {
+};
+#endif
+
 #include "hw/core/tcg-cpu-ops.h"
 
 static struct TCGCPUOps rx_tcg_ops = {
@@ -202,6 +209,9 @@ static void rx_cpu_class_init(ObjectClass *klass, void *data)
     cc->dump_state = rx_cpu_dump_state;
     cc->set_pc = rx_cpu_set_pc;
 
+#ifndef CONFIG_USER_ONLY
+    cc->sysemu_ops = &rx_sysemu_ops;
+#endif
     cc->gdb_read_register = rx_cpu_gdb_read_register;
     cc->gdb_write_register = rx_cpu_gdb_write_register;
     cc->get_phys_page_debug = rx_cpu_get_phys_page_debug;
diff --git a/target/s390x/cpu.c b/target/s390x/cpu.c
index 7ce425f611..77800e99b9 100644
--- a/target/s390x/cpu.c
+++ b/target/s390x/cpu.c
@@ -476,6 +476,13 @@ static void s390_cpu_reset_full(DeviceState *dev)
     return s390_cpu_reset(s, S390_CPU_RESET_CLEAR);
 }
 
+#ifndef CONFIG_USER_ONLY
+#include "hw/core/sysemu-cpu-ops.h"
+
+static const struct SysemuCPUOps s390_sysemu_ops = {
+};
+#endif
+
 #ifdef CONFIG_TCG
 #include "hw/core/tcg-cpu-ops.h"
 
@@ -519,6 +526,7 @@ static void s390_cpu_class_init(ObjectClass *oc, void *data)
     cc->legacy_vmsd = &vmstate_s390_cpu;
     cc->get_crash_info = s390_cpu_get_crash_info;
     cc->write_elf64_note = s390_cpu_write_elf64_note;
+    cc->sysemu_ops = &s390_sysemu_ops;
 #endif
     cc->disas_set_info = s390_cpu_disas_set_info;
     cc->gdb_num_core_regs = S390_NUM_CORE_REGS;
diff --git a/target/sh4/cpu.c b/target/sh4/cpu.c
index 35d4251aaf..79aec898fa 100644
--- a/target/sh4/cpu.c
+++ b/target/sh4/cpu.c
@@ -223,6 +223,11 @@ static const VMStateDescription vmstate_sh_cpu = {
     .name = "cpu",
     .unmigratable = 1,
 };
+
+#include "hw/core/sysemu-cpu-ops.h"
+
+static const struct SysemuCPUOps sh4_sysemu_ops = {
+};
 #endif
 
 #include "hw/core/tcg-cpu-ops.h"
@@ -259,6 +264,7 @@ static void superh_cpu_class_init(ObjectClass *oc, void *data)
     cc->gdb_write_register = superh_cpu_gdb_write_register;
 #ifndef CONFIG_USER_ONLY
     cc->get_phys_page_debug = superh_cpu_get_phys_page_debug;
+    cc->sysemu_ops = &sh4_sysemu_ops;
     dc->vmsd = &vmstate_sh_cpu;
 #endif
     cc->disas_set_info = superh_cpu_disas_set_info;
diff --git a/target/sparc/cpu.c b/target/sparc/cpu.c
index ba497561bf..70be0ecf5e 100644
--- a/target/sparc/cpu.c
+++ b/target/sparc/cpu.c
@@ -848,6 +848,13 @@ static Property sparc_cpu_properties[] = {
     DEFINE_PROP_END_OF_LIST()
 };
 
+#ifndef CONFIG_USER_ONLY
+#include "hw/core/sysemu-cpu-ops.h"
+
+static const struct SysemuCPUOps sparc_sysemu_ops = {
+};
+#endif
+
 #ifdef CONFIG_TCG
 #include "hw/core/tcg-cpu-ops.h"
 
@@ -890,6 +897,7 @@ static void sparc_cpu_class_init(ObjectClass *oc, void *data)
 #ifndef CONFIG_USER_ONLY
     cc->get_phys_page_debug = sparc_cpu_get_phys_page_debug;
     cc->legacy_vmsd = &vmstate_sparc_cpu;
+    cc->sysemu_ops = &sparc_sysemu_ops;
 #endif
     cc->disas_set_info = cpu_sparc_disas_set_info;
 
diff --git a/target/tricore/cpu.c b/target/tricore/cpu.c
index 0b1e139bcb..7dc6aab66c 100644
--- a/target/tricore/cpu.c
+++ b/target/tricore/cpu.c
@@ -142,6 +142,11 @@ static void tc27x_initfn(Object *obj)
     set_feature(&cpu->env, TRICORE_FEATURE_161);
 }
 
+#include "hw/core/sysemu-cpu-ops.h"
+
+static const struct SysemuCPUOps tricore_sysemu_ops = {
+};
+
 #include "hw/core/tcg-cpu-ops.h"
 
 static struct TCGCPUOps tricore_tcg_ops = {
@@ -171,6 +176,7 @@ static void tricore_cpu_class_init(ObjectClass *c, void *data)
     cc->dump_state = tricore_cpu_dump_state;
     cc->set_pc = tricore_cpu_set_pc;
     cc->get_phys_page_debug = tricore_cpu_get_phys_page_debug;
+    cc->sysemu_ops = &tricore_sysemu_ops;
     cc->tcg_ops = &tricore_tcg_ops;
 }
 
diff --git a/target/xtensa/cpu.c b/target/xtensa/cpu.c
index 0267571fbd..a196530451 100644
--- a/target/xtensa/cpu.c
+++ b/target/xtensa/cpu.c
@@ -180,6 +180,11 @@ static const VMStateDescription vmstate_xtensa_cpu = {
     .name = "cpu",
     .unmigratable = 1,
 };
+
+#include "hw/core/sysemu-cpu-ops.h"
+
+static const struct SysemuCPUOps xtensa_sysemu_ops = {
+};
 #endif
 
 #include "hw/core/tcg-cpu-ops.h"
@@ -216,6 +221,7 @@ static void xtensa_cpu_class_init(ObjectClass *oc, void *data)
     cc->gdb_write_register = xtensa_cpu_gdb_write_register;
     cc->gdb_stop_before_watchpoint = true;
 #ifndef CONFIG_USER_ONLY
+    cc->sysemu_ops = &xtensa_sysemu_ops;
     cc->get_phys_page_debug = xtensa_cpu_get_phys_page_debug;
     dc->vmsd = &vmstate_xtensa_cpu;
 #endif
