diff --git a/qemu.go b/qemu.go
index e6ace3f94..21868ac23 100644
--- a/qemu.go
+++ b/qemu.go
@@ -744,6 +744,13 @@ type Knobs struct {
 
 	// MemPrealloc will allocate all the RAM upfront
 	MemPrealloc bool
+
+	// Mlock will control locking of memory
+	// Only active when Realtime is set to true
+	Mlock bool
+
+	// Realtime will enable realtime QEMU
+	Realtime bool
 }
 
 // Config is the qemu configuration structure.
@@ -1005,6 +1012,15 @@ func (config *Config) appendKnobs() {
 			config.qemuParams = append(config.qemuParams, deviceMemParam)
 		}
 	}
+
+	if config.Knobs.Realtime == true {
+		config.qemuParams = append(config.qemuParams, "-realtime")
+		if config.Knobs.Mlock == true {
+			config.qemuParams = append(config.qemuParams, "mlock=on")
+		} else {
+			config.qemuParams = append(config.qemuParams, "mlock=off")
+		}
+	}
 }
 
 // LaunchQemu can be used to launch a new qemu instance.
diff --git a/qemu_test.go b/qemu_test.go
index ae9d31d9a..317d2a048 100644
--- a/qemu_test.go
+++ b/qemu_test.go
@@ -223,7 +223,7 @@ func TestAppendEmptyDevice(t *testing.T) {
 	testAppend(device, "", t)
 }
 
-var knobsString = "-no-user-config -nodefaults -nographic -daemonize"
+var knobsString = "-no-user-config -nodefaults -nographic -daemonize -realtime mlock=on"
 
 func TestAppendKnobsAllTrue(t *testing.T) {
 	knobs := Knobs{
@@ -232,6 +232,8 @@ func TestAppendKnobsAllTrue(t *testing.T) {
 		NoGraphic:    true,
 		Daemonize:    true,
 		MemPrealloc:  true,
+		Realtime:     true,
+		Mlock:        true,
 	}
 
 	testAppend(knobs, knobsString, t)
@@ -243,6 +245,8 @@ func TestAppendKnobsAllFalse(t *testing.T) {
 		NoDefaults:   false,
 		NoGraphic:    false,
 		MemPrealloc:  false,
+		Realtime:     false,
+		Mlock:        false,
 	}
 
 	testAppend(knobs, "", t)