diff --git a/meta/lib/oeqa/selftest/cases/runtime_test.py b/meta/lib/oeqa/selftest/cases/runtime_test.py
index 463679dd32..31acbc652f 100644
--- a/meta/lib/oeqa/selftest/cases/runtime_test.py
+++ b/meta/lib/oeqa/selftest/cases/runtime_test.py
@@ -236,11 +236,11 @@ class TestImage(OESelftestTestCase):
         features += 'TEST_SUITES = "ping ssh virgl"\n'
         features += 'IMAGE_FEATURES:append = " ssh-server-dropbear"\n'
         features += 'IMAGE_INSTALL:append = " kmscube"\n'
-        features_gtk = features + 'TEST_RUNQEMUPARAMS = "gtk gl"\n'
+        features_gtk = features + 'TEST_RUNQEMUPARAMS:append = " gtk gl"\n'
         self.write_config(features_gtk)
         bitbake('core-image-minimal')
         bitbake('-c testimage core-image-minimal')
-        features_sdl = features + 'TEST_RUNQEMUPARAMS = "sdl gl"\n'
+        features_sdl = features + 'TEST_RUNQEMUPARAMS:append = " sdl gl"\n'
         self.write_config(features_sdl)
         bitbake('core-image-minimal')
         bitbake('-c testimage core-image-minimal')
@@ -268,7 +268,7 @@ class TestImage(OESelftestTestCase):
         features += 'TEST_SUITES = "ping ssh virgl"\n'
         features += 'IMAGE_FEATURES:append = " ssh-server-dropbear"\n'
         features += 'IMAGE_INSTALL:append = " kmscube"\n'
-        features += 'TEST_RUNQEMUPARAMS = "egl-headless"\n'
+        features += 'TEST_RUNQEMUPARAMS:append = " egl-headless"\n'
         self.write_config(features)
         bitbake('core-image-minimal')
         bitbake('-c testimage core-image-minimal')