diff --git a/cmd/start.go b/cmd/start.go
index 61710c9ed..853cc6c79 100644
--- a/cmd/start.go
+++ b/cmd/start.go
@@ -212,11 +212,16 @@ func prepareConfig(cmd *cobra.Command) {
 	startCmdArgs.Mounts = mountsFromFlag(startCmdArgs.Flags.Mounts)
 	startCmdArgs.ActivateRuntime = &startCmdArgs.Flags.ActivateRuntime
 
-	// convert mount type for qemu
-	if startCmdArgs.VMType != "vz" && startCmdArgs.MountType == "virtiofs" {
-		startCmdArgs.MountType = "9p"
+	// handle macOS virtualization.framework transition
+	{
+		if current.VMType == "" {
+			current.VMType = "qemu"
+		}
+		// convert mount type for qemu
+		if startCmdArgs.VMType != "vz" && startCmdArgs.MountType == "virtiofs" {
+			startCmdArgs.MountType = "9p"
+		}
 	}
-
 	// if there is no existing settings
 	if current.Empty() {
 		// attempt template