diff --git a/blockdev.c b/blockdev.c
index 99828ad..2977e2f 100644
--- a/blockdev.c
+++ b/blockdev.c
@@ -275,7 +275,7 @@ static bool do_check_io_limits(BlockIOLimit *io_limits)
     return true;
 }
 
-DriveInfo *drive_init(QemuOpts *opts, int default_to_scsi)
+DriveInfo *drive_init(QemuOpts *opts, BlockInterfaceType default_drive_if)
 {
     const char *buf;
     const char *file = NULL;
@@ -325,7 +325,7 @@ DriveInfo *drive_init(QemuOpts *opts, int default_to_scsi)
             return NULL;
 	}
     } else {
-        type = default_to_scsi ? IF_SCSI : IF_IDE;
+        type = get_default_drive_if(default_drive_if);
     }
 
     max_devs = if_max_devs[type];
diff --git a/blockdev.h b/blockdev.h
index 5f27b64..658380d 100644
--- a/blockdev.h
+++ b/blockdev.h
@@ -40,6 +40,26 @@ struct DriveInfo {
     int refcount;
 };
 
+/*
+ * Each qemu machine type defines a default_drive_if field for its default
+ * interface type. When accessing the default_drive_if field, please make use
+ * of get_default_drive_if(). If default_drive_if is unspecified, we set it to
+ * IF_IDE.
+ *
+ * Left as a 'todo': We should convert those that are unspecified to their
+ * proper default values, thus eliminating the need for get_default_drive_if().
+ */
+static inline int get_default_drive_if(int default_drive_if)
+{
+    assert(default_drive_if < IF_COUNT);
+    assert(default_drive_if >= IF_NONE);
+
+    if (default_drive_if == 0) {
+        return IF_IDE;
+    }
+    return default_drive_if;
+}
+
 DriveInfo *drive_get(BlockInterfaceType type, int bus, int unit);
 DriveInfo *drive_get_by_index(BlockInterfaceType type, int index);
 int drive_get_max_bus(BlockInterfaceType type);
diff --git a/hw/boards.h b/hw/boards.h
index 813d0e5..cd3f79f 100644
--- a/hw/boards.h
+++ b/hw/boards.h
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ typedef struct QEMUMachine {
     const char *desc;
     QEMUMachineInitFunc *init;
     QEMUMachineResetFunc *reset;
-    int use_scsi;
+    int default_drive_if;
     int max_cpus;
     unsigned int no_serial:1,
         no_parallel:1,
diff --git a/hw/device-hotplug.c b/hw/device-hotplug.c
index eec0fe3..53ee6c3 100644
--- a/hw/device-hotplug.c
+++ b/hw/device-hotplug.c
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ DriveInfo *add_init_drive(const char *optstr)
     if (!opts)
         return NULL;
 
-    dinfo = drive_init(opts, current_machine->use_scsi);
+    dinfo = drive_init(opts, current_machine->default_drive_if);
     if (!dinfo) {
         qemu_opts_del(opts);
         return NULL;
diff --git a/hw/highbank.c b/hw/highbank.c
index afbb005..03ae3d8 100644
--- a/hw/highbank.c
+++ b/hw/highbank.c
@@ -326,7 +326,7 @@ static QEMUMachine highbank_machine = {
     .name = "highbank",
     .desc = "Calxeda Highbank (ECX-1000)",
     .init = highbank_init,
-    .use_scsi = 1,
+    .default_drive_if = IF_SCSI,
     .max_cpus = 4,
 };
 
diff --git a/hw/leon3.c b/hw/leon3.c
index 7742738..ef83dff 100644
--- a/hw/leon3.c
+++ b/hw/leon3.c
@@ -212,7 +212,6 @@ static QEMUMachine leon3_generic_machine = {
     .name     = "leon3_generic",
     .desc     = "Leon-3 generic",
     .init     = leon3_generic_hw_init,
-    .use_scsi = 0,
 };
 
 static void leon3_machine_init(void)
diff --git a/hw/mips_jazz.c b/hw/mips_jazz.c
index 0847427..f72358c 100644
--- a/hw/mips_jazz.c
+++ b/hw/mips_jazz.c
@@ -324,14 +324,14 @@ static QEMUMachine mips_magnum_machine = {
     .name = "magnum",
     .desc = "MIPS Magnum",
     .init = mips_magnum_init,
-    .use_scsi = 1,
+    .default_drive_if = IF_SCSI,
 };
 
 static QEMUMachine mips_pica61_machine = {
     .name = "pica61",
     .desc = "Acer Pica 61",
     .init = mips_pica61_init,
-    .use_scsi = 1,
+    .default_drive_if = IF_SCSI,
 };
 
 static void mips_jazz_machine_init(void)
diff --git a/hw/pc_sysfw.c b/hw/pc_sysfw.c
index 9d7c5f4..b294f91 100644
--- a/hw/pc_sysfw.c
+++ b/hw/pc_sysfw.c
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ static void pc_fw_add_pflash_drv(void)
       return;
     }
 
-    drive_init(opts, machine->use_scsi);
+    drive_init(opts, machine->default_drive_if);
 }
 
 static void pc_system_flash_init(MemoryRegion *rom_memory,
diff --git a/hw/puv3.c b/hw/puv3.c
index 764799c..3d77349 100644
--- a/hw/puv3.c
+++ b/hw/puv3.c
@@ -122,7 +122,6 @@ static QEMUMachine puv3_machine = {
     .desc = "PKUnity Version-3 based on UniCore32",
     .init = puv3_init,
     .is_default = 1,
-    .use_scsi = 0,
 };
 
 static void puv3_machine_init(void)
diff --git a/hw/realview.c b/hw/realview.c
index b5cb08c..129c181 100644
--- a/hw/realview.c
+++ b/hw/realview.c
@@ -394,14 +394,14 @@ static QEMUMachine realview_eb_machine = {
     .name = "realview-eb",
     .desc = "ARM RealView Emulation Baseboard (ARM926EJ-S)",
     .init = realview_eb_init,
-    .use_scsi = 1,
+    .default_drive_if = IF_SCSI,
 };
 
 static QEMUMachine realview_eb_mpcore_machine = {
     .name = "realview-eb-mpcore",
     .desc = "ARM RealView Emulation Baseboard (ARM11MPCore)",
     .init = realview_eb_mpcore_init,
-    .use_scsi = 1,
+    .default_drive_if = IF_SCSI,
     .max_cpus = 4,
 };
 
@@ -415,7 +415,7 @@ static QEMUMachine realview_pbx_a9_machine = {
     .name = "realview-pbx-a9",
     .desc = "ARM RealView Platform Baseboard Explore for Cortex-A9",
     .init = realview_pbx_a9_init,
-    .use_scsi = 1,
+    .default_drive_if = IF_SCSI,
     .max_cpus = 4,
 };
 
diff --git a/hw/spapr.c b/hw/spapr.c
index 8d0ad3c..ee5346b 100644
--- a/hw/spapr.c
+++ b/hw/spapr.c
@@ -924,7 +924,7 @@ static QEMUMachine spapr_machine = {
     .reset = ppc_spapr_reset,
     .max_cpus = MAX_CPUS,
     .no_parallel = 1,
-    .use_scsi = 1,
+    .default_drive_if = IF_SCSI,
 };
 
 static void spapr_machine_init(void)
diff --git a/hw/sun4m.c b/hw/sun4m.c
index 02673b2..dc2a7c1 100644
--- a/hw/sun4m.c
+++ b/hw/sun4m.c
@@ -1426,7 +1426,7 @@ static QEMUMachine ss5_machine = {
     .name = "SS-5",
     .desc = "Sun4m platform, SPARCstation 5",
     .init = ss5_init,
-    .use_scsi = 1,
+    .default_drive_if = IF_SCSI,
     .is_default = 1,
 };
 
@@ -1434,7 +1434,7 @@ static QEMUMachine ss10_machine = {
     .name = "SS-10",
     .desc = "Sun4m platform, SPARCstation 10",
     .init = ss10_init,
-    .use_scsi = 1,
+    .default_drive_if = IF_SCSI,
     .max_cpus = 4,
 };
 
@@ -1442,7 +1442,7 @@ static QEMUMachine ss600mp_machine = {
     .name = "SS-600MP",
     .desc = "Sun4m platform, SPARCserver 600MP",
     .init = ss600mp_init,
-    .use_scsi = 1,
+    .default_drive_if = IF_SCSI,
     .max_cpus = 4,
 };
 
@@ -1450,7 +1450,7 @@ static QEMUMachine ss20_machine = {
     .name = "SS-20",
     .desc = "Sun4m platform, SPARCstation 20",
     .init = ss20_init,
-    .use_scsi = 1,
+    .default_drive_if = IF_SCSI,
     .max_cpus = 4,
 };
 
@@ -1458,35 +1458,35 @@ static QEMUMachine voyager_machine = {
     .name = "Voyager",
     .desc = "Sun4m platform, SPARCstation Voyager",
     .init = vger_init,
-    .use_scsi = 1,
+    .default_drive_if = IF_SCSI,
 };
 
 static QEMUMachine ss_lx_machine = {
     .name = "LX",
     .desc = "Sun4m platform, SPARCstation LX",
     .init = ss_lx_init,
-    .use_scsi = 1,
+    .default_drive_if = IF_SCSI,
 };
 
 static QEMUMachine ss4_machine = {
     .name = "SS-4",
     .desc = "Sun4m platform, SPARCstation 4",
     .init = ss4_init,
-    .use_scsi = 1,
+    .default_drive_if = IF_SCSI,
 };
 
 static QEMUMachine scls_machine = {
     .name = "SPARCClassic",
     .desc = "Sun4m platform, SPARCClassic",
     .init = scls_init,
-    .use_scsi = 1,
+    .default_drive_if = IF_SCSI,
 };
 
 static QEMUMachine sbook_machine = {
     .name = "SPARCbook",
     .desc = "Sun4m platform, SPARCbook",
     .init = sbook_init,
-    .use_scsi = 1,
+    .default_drive_if = IF_SCSI,
 };
 
 static const struct sun4d_hwdef sun4d_hwdefs[] = {
@@ -1709,7 +1709,7 @@ static QEMUMachine ss1000_machine = {
     .name = "SS-1000",
     .desc = "Sun4d platform, SPARCserver 1000",
     .init = ss1000_init,
-    .use_scsi = 1,
+    .default_drive_if = IF_SCSI,
     .max_cpus = 8,
 };
 
@@ -1717,7 +1717,7 @@ static QEMUMachine ss2000_machine = {
     .name = "SS-2000",
     .desc = "Sun4d platform, SPARCcenter 2000",
     .init = ss2000_init,
-    .use_scsi = 1,
+    .default_drive_if = IF_SCSI,
     .max_cpus = 20,
 };
 
@@ -1896,7 +1896,7 @@ static QEMUMachine ss2_machine = {
     .name = "SS-2",
     .desc = "Sun4c platform, SPARCstation 2",
     .init = ss2_init,
-    .use_scsi = 1,
+    .default_drive_if = IF_SCSI,
 };
 
 static void sun4m_register_types(void)
diff --git a/hw/versatilepb.c b/hw/versatilepb.c
index e85f982..86c18aa 100644
--- a/hw/versatilepb.c
+++ b/hw/versatilepb.c
@@ -380,14 +380,14 @@ static QEMUMachine versatilepb_machine = {
     .name = "versatilepb",
     .desc = "ARM Versatile/PB (ARM926EJ-S)",
     .init = vpb_init,
-    .use_scsi = 1,
+    .default_drive_if = IF_SCSI,
 };
 
 static QEMUMachine versatileab_machine = {
     .name = "versatileab",
     .desc = "ARM Versatile/AB (ARM926EJ-S)",
     .init = vab_init,
-    .use_scsi = 1,
+    .default_drive_if = IF_SCSI,
 };
 
 static void versatile_machine_init(void)
diff --git a/hw/vexpress.c b/hw/vexpress.c
index 3f7cb66..8fb9905 100644
--- a/hw/vexpress.c
+++ b/hw/vexpress.c
@@ -497,7 +497,7 @@ static QEMUMachine vexpress_a9_machine = {
     .name = "vexpress-a9",
     .desc = "ARM Versatile Express for Cortex-A9",
     .init = vexpress_a9_init,
-    .use_scsi = 1,
+    .default_drive_if = IF_SCSI,
     .max_cpus = 4,
 };
 
@@ -505,7 +505,7 @@ static QEMUMachine vexpress_a15_machine = {
     .name = "vexpress-a15",
     .desc = "ARM Versatile Express for Cortex-A15",
     .init = vexpress_a15_init,
-    .use_scsi = 1,
+    .default_drive_if = IF_SCSI,
     .max_cpus = 4,
 };
 
diff --git a/hw/xilinx_zynq.c b/hw/xilinx_zynq.c
index c55dafb..a4f2c1b 100644
--- a/hw/xilinx_zynq.c
+++ b/hw/xilinx_zynq.c
@@ -181,7 +181,7 @@ static QEMUMachine zynq_machine = {
     .name = "xilinx-zynq-a9",
     .desc = "Xilinx Zynq Platform Baseboard for Cortex-A9",
     .init = zynq_init,
-    .use_scsi = 1,
+    .default_drive_if = IF_SCSI,
     .max_cpus = 1,
     .no_sdcard = 1
 };
diff --git a/vl.c b/vl.c
index 6dd767c..824d8ae 100644
--- a/vl.c
+++ b/vl.c
@@ -812,9 +812,9 @@ bool usb_enabled(bool default_usb)
 
 static int drive_init_func(QemuOpts *opts, void *opaque)
 {
-    int *use_scsi = opaque;
+    int *default_drive_if = opaque;
 
-    return drive_init(opts, *use_scsi) == NULL;
+    return drive_init(opts, *default_drive_if) == NULL;
 }
 
 static int drive_enable_snapshot(QemuOpts *opts, void *opaque)
@@ -825,14 +825,14 @@ static int drive_enable_snapshot(QemuOpts *opts, void *opaque)
     return 0;
 }
 
-static void default_drive(int enable, int snapshot, int use_scsi,
+static void default_drive(int enable, int snapshot, int default_drive_if,
                           BlockInterfaceType type, int index,
                           const char *optstr)
 {
     QemuOpts *opts;
 
     if (type == IF_DEFAULT) {
-        type = use_scsi ? IF_SCSI : IF_IDE;
+        type = get_default_drive_if(default_drive_if);
     }
 
     if (!enable || drive_get_by_index(type, index)) {
@@ -843,7 +843,7 @@ static void default_drive(int enable, int snapshot, int use_scsi,
     if (snapshot) {
         drive_enable_snapshot(opts, NULL);
     }
-    if (!drive_init(opts, use_scsi)) {
+    if (!drive_init(opts, default_drive_if)) {
         exit(1);
     }
 }
@@ -3565,14 +3565,16 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv, char **envp)
     /* open the virtual block devices */
     if (snapshot)
         qemu_opts_foreach(qemu_find_opts("drive"), drive_enable_snapshot, NULL, 0);
-    if (qemu_opts_foreach(qemu_find_opts("drive"), drive_init_func, &machine->use_scsi, 1) != 0)
+    if (qemu_opts_foreach(qemu_find_opts("drive"), drive_init_func,
+                          &machine->default_drive_if, 1) != 0) {
         exit(1);
+    }
 
-    default_drive(default_cdrom, snapshot, machine->use_scsi,
+    default_drive(default_cdrom, snapshot, machine->default_drive_if,
                   IF_DEFAULT, 2, CDROM_OPTS);
-    default_drive(default_floppy, snapshot, machine->use_scsi,
+    default_drive(default_floppy, snapshot, machine->default_drive_if,
                   IF_FLOPPY, 0, FD_OPTS);
-    default_drive(default_sdcard, snapshot, machine->use_scsi,
+    default_drive(default_sdcard, snapshot, machine->default_drive_if,
                   IF_SD, 0, SD_OPTS);
 
     register_savevm_live(NULL, "ram", 0, 4, &savevm_ram_handlers, NULL);
