diff --git a/board/emulation/qemu-arm/qemu-arm.c b/board/emulation/qemu-arm/qemu-arm.c
index dfea0d9..942f1ff 100644
--- a/board/emulation/qemu-arm/qemu-arm.c
+++ b/board/emulation/qemu-arm/qemu-arm.c
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
 #include <fdtdec.h>
 #include <init.h>
 #include <log.h>
+#include <usb.h>
 #include <virtio_types.h>
 #include <virtio.h>
 
@@ -114,6 +115,10 @@
 	 */
 	virtio_init();
 
+	/* start usb so that usb keyboard can be used as input device */
+	if (CONFIG_IS_ENABLED(USB_KEYBOARD))
+		usb_init();
+
 	return 0;
 }