diff --git a/support/testing/infra/emulator.py b/support/testing/infra/emulator.py
index 238e123302f0..ef5be2a19e72 100644
--- a/support/testing/infra/emulator.py
+++ b/support/testing/infra/emulator.py
@@ -116,15 +116,21 @@ def boot(self, arch, kernel=None, kernel_cmdline=None, options=None):
         ldavg_str = f"{ldavg[0]:.2f}, {ldavg[1]:.2f}, {ldavg[2]:.2f}"
         self.logfile.write(f"> host loadavg: {ldavg_str}\n")
         self.logfile.write(f"> timeout multiplier: {self.timeout_multiplier}\n")
-        self.logfile.write("> starting qemu with '%s'\n" % " ".join(qemu_cmd))
+        self.logfile.write(f"> emulator using {qemu_cmd[0]} version:\n")
         host_bin = os.path.join(self.builddir, "host", "bin")
         br_path = host_bin + os.pathsep + os.environ["PATH"]
+        qemu_env = {"QEMU_AUDIO_DRV": "none",
+                    "PATH": br_path}
+        pexpect.run(f"{qemu_cmd[0]} --version",
+                    encoding='utf-8',
+                    logfile=self.logfile,
+                    env=qemu_env)
+        self.logfile.write("> starting qemu with '%s'\n" % " ".join(qemu_cmd))
         self.qemu = pexpect.spawn(qemu_cmd[0], qemu_cmd[1:],
                                   timeout=5 * self.timeout_multiplier,
                                   encoding='utf-8',
                                   codec_errors='replace',
-                                  env={"QEMU_AUDIO_DRV": "none",
-                                       "PATH": br_path})
+                                  env=qemu_env)
         # We want only stdout into the log to avoid double echo
         self.qemu.logfile_read = self.logfile