diff --git a/src/main.rs b/src/main.rs
index f24936d4c..1a0c17f7d 100644
--- a/src/main.rs
+++ b/src/main.rs
@@ -430,7 +430,7 @@ fn start_vmm(cmd_arguments: ArgMatches, api_socket_path: &str) -> Result<(), Err
 
     // Can't test for "vm-config" group as some have default values. The kernel
     // is the only required option for booting the VM.
-    if cmd_arguments.is_present("kernel") {
+    if cmd_arguments.is_present("kernel") || cmd_arguments.is_present("tdx") {
         let vm_params = config::VmParams::from_arg_matches(&cmd_arguments);
         let vm_config = config::VmConfig::parse(vm_params).map_err(Error::ParsingConfig)?;
 
diff --git a/vmm/src/config.rs b/vmm/src/config.rs
index c5476a414..e97067950 100644
--- a/vmm/src/config.rs
+++ b/vmm/src/config.rs
@@ -1531,6 +1531,7 @@ pub struct VmConfig {
 
 impl VmConfig {
     pub fn validate(&self) -> ValidationResult<()> {
+        #[cfg(not(feature = "tdx"))]
         self.kernel.as_ref().ok_or(ValidationError::KernelMissing)?;
 
         if self.console.mode == ConsoleOutputMode::Tty && self.serial.mode == ConsoleOutputMode::Tty