diff --git a/libguestfs.spec b/libguestfs.spec
index 202d15c..ba41b09 100644
--- a/libguestfs.spec
+++ b/libguestfs.spec
@@ -216,6 +216,9 @@ virtual machines.
 %patch -p1
 
 %build
+# disable qemu test.
+# If the package is built within kvm the configure test will fail because it starts kvm within kvm
+export vmchannel_test=no
 # for configure macro below
 CFLAGS="$RPM_OPT_FLAGS -Wno-unused"
 CXXFLAGS="$RPM_OPT_FLAGS -Wno-unused"