diff --git a/backends/hostmem-file.c b/backends/hostmem-file.c
index ac3e433cbd..3c69db7946 100644
--- a/backends/hostmem-file.c
+++ b/backends/hostmem-file.c
@@ -85,6 +85,7 @@ file_backend_memory_alloc(HostMemoryBackend *backend, Error **errp)
     ram_flags |= fb->readonly ? RAM_READONLY_FD : 0;
     ram_flags |= fb->rom == ON_OFF_AUTO_ON ? RAM_READONLY : 0;
     ram_flags |= backend->reserve ? 0 : RAM_NORESERVE;
+    ram_flags |= backend->guest_memfd ? RAM_GUEST_MEMFD : 0;
     ram_flags |= fb->is_pmem ? RAM_PMEM : 0;
     ram_flags |= RAM_NAMED_FILE;
     return memory_region_init_ram_from_file(&backend->mr, OBJECT(backend), name,
diff --git a/backends/hostmem-memfd.c b/backends/hostmem-memfd.c
index 3923ea9364..745ead0034 100644
--- a/backends/hostmem-memfd.c
+++ b/backends/hostmem-memfd.c
@@ -55,6 +55,7 @@ memfd_backend_memory_alloc(HostMemoryBackend *backend, Error **errp)
     name = host_memory_backend_get_name(backend);
     ram_flags = backend->share ? RAM_SHARED : 0;
     ram_flags |= backend->reserve ? 0 : RAM_NORESERVE;
+    ram_flags |= backend->guest_memfd ? RAM_GUEST_MEMFD : 0;
     return memory_region_init_ram_from_fd(&backend->mr, OBJECT(backend), name,
                                           backend->size, ram_flags, fd, 0, errp);
 }
diff --git a/backends/hostmem-ram.c b/backends/hostmem-ram.c
index d121249f0f..f7d81af783 100644
--- a/backends/hostmem-ram.c
+++ b/backends/hostmem-ram.c
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ ram_backend_memory_alloc(HostMemoryBackend *backend, Error **errp)
     name = host_memory_backend_get_name(backend);
     ram_flags = backend->share ? RAM_SHARED : 0;
     ram_flags |= backend->reserve ? 0 : RAM_NORESERVE;
+    ram_flags |= backend->guest_memfd ? RAM_GUEST_MEMFD : 0;
     return memory_region_init_ram_flags_nomigrate(&backend->mr, OBJECT(backend),
                                                   name, backend->size,
                                                   ram_flags, errp);
diff --git a/backends/hostmem.c b/backends/hostmem.c
index 81a72ce40b..eb9682b4a8 100644
--- a/backends/hostmem.c
+++ b/backends/hostmem.c
@@ -277,6 +277,7 @@ static void host_memory_backend_init(Object *obj)
     /* TODO: convert access to globals to compat properties */
     backend->merge = machine_mem_merge(machine);
     backend->dump = machine_dump_guest_core(machine);
+    backend->guest_memfd = machine_require_guest_memfd(machine);
     backend->reserve = true;
     backend->prealloc_threads = machine->smp.cpus;
 }
diff --git a/hw/core/machine.c b/hw/core/machine.c
index a92bec2314..582c2df37a 100644
--- a/hw/core/machine.c
+++ b/hw/core/machine.c
@@ -1201,6 +1201,11 @@ bool machine_mem_merge(MachineState *machine)
     return machine->mem_merge;
 }
 
+bool machine_require_guest_memfd(MachineState *machine)
+{
+    return machine->require_guest_memfd;
+}
+
 static char *cpu_slot_to_string(const CPUArchId *cpu)
 {
     GString *s = g_string_new(NULL);
diff --git a/include/hw/boards.h b/include/hw/boards.h
index 50e0cf4278..69c1ba45cf 100644
--- a/include/hw/boards.h
+++ b/include/hw/boards.h
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ bool machine_usb(MachineState *machine);
 int machine_phandle_start(MachineState *machine);
 bool machine_dump_guest_core(MachineState *machine);
 bool machine_mem_merge(MachineState *machine);
+bool machine_require_guest_memfd(MachineState *machine);
 HotpluggableCPUList *machine_query_hotpluggable_cpus(MachineState *machine);
 void machine_set_cpu_numa_node(MachineState *machine,
                                const CpuInstanceProperties *props,
@@ -370,6 +371,7 @@ struct MachineState {
     char *dt_compatible;
     bool dump_guest_core;
     bool mem_merge;
+    bool require_guest_memfd;
     bool usb;
     bool usb_disabled;
     char *firmware;
diff --git a/include/sysemu/hostmem.h b/include/sysemu/hostmem.h
index 0e411aaa29..04b884bf42 100644
--- a/include/sysemu/hostmem.h
+++ b/include/sysemu/hostmem.h
@@ -74,6 +74,7 @@ struct HostMemoryBackend {
     uint64_t size;
     bool merge, dump, use_canonical_path;
     bool prealloc, is_mapped, share, reserve;
+    bool guest_memfd;
     uint32_t prealloc_threads;
     ThreadContext *prealloc_context;
     DECLARE_BITMAP(host_nodes, MAX_NODES + 1);