I found my entries about this topic, but no clear answer. As user, I want to install a VM with virt-install. $ virt-install --connect qemu:///system --LONG list of options Error : could not access KVM kernel module: permission denied. Running the above command as root returns the same. My configuration: martinus@gerbillous ➤➤ ~ % uname -r 3.16.1-1-ARCH martinus@gerbillous ➤➤ ~ % ls -al /dev/kvm crw-rw----+ 1 root kvm 10, 232 Aug 17 11:05 /dev/kvm martinus@gerbillous ➤➤ ~ % groups martinus adm wheel video audio kalu libvirt qemu kvm martinus No files in /etc/polkit.1/rules.d No files in /etc/udev/rules.d , so /usr/lib/udev/rules.d/65-kvm.rules apply. /etc/libvirt/qemu.conf is set to qemu:qemu. qemu user from /etc/passwd : qemu:x:135:135:qemu:/:/usr/bin/nologin qemu group from /etc/group : qemu:x:135:martinus I have no idea what to do. Thank you for suggestion as I already spent lot of time with various "suspicious" tricks to solve this issue. -- google.com/+arnaudgabourygabx