diff --git a/test/system-configuration.nix b/test/system-configuration.nix
index b357683f4464..dee0461c2e40 100644
--- a/test/system-configuration.nix
+++ b/test/system-configuration.nix
@@ -15,6 +15,9 @@ let
     readOnlyRoot = false;
   };
 
+  # Extra kernel command line arguments.
+  extraKernelParams = "vga=0x317 console=tty1 splash=verbose";
+
 in
 
 with bootEnv;
@@ -31,6 +34,7 @@ rec {
     inherit grubMenuBuilder;
     kernel = pkgs.kernel + "/vmlinuz";
     initrd = initialRamdisk + "/initrd";
+    inherit extraKernelParams;
   };
 
 
diff --git a/test/system-configuration.sh b/test/system-configuration.sh
index 06472ae8d837..11254a24d0a9 100644
--- a/test/system-configuration.sh
+++ b/test/system-configuration.sh
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ ln -s $kernel $out/kernel
 ln -s $grub $out/grub
 
 cat > $out/menu.lst << GRUBEND
-kernel $kernel selinux=0 apm=on acpi=on init=$bootStage2
+kernel $kernel selinux=0 apm=on acpi=on init=$bootStage2 $extraKernelParams
 initrd $initrd
 GRUBEND