diff --git a/Kernel/Devices/HID/HIDManagement.cpp b/Kernel/Devices/HID/HIDManagement.cpp
index 873e5f8070..1d45324d0e 100644
--- a/Kernel/Devices/HID/HIDManagement.cpp
+++ b/Kernel/Devices/HID/HIDManagement.cpp
@@ -107,12 +107,20 @@ UNMAP_AFTER_INIT ErrorOr<void> HIDManagement::enumerate()
     // set to emulate PS/2, we should not initialize the PS/2 controller.
     if (kernel_command_line().disable_ps2_controller())
         return {};
-    if (ACPI::Parser::the() && !ACPI::Parser::the()->have_8042())
-        return {};
     m_i8042_controller = I8042Controller::initialize();
 
+    // Note: If ACPI is disabled or doesn't indicate that we have an i8042, we
+    // still perform a manual existence check via probing, which is relevant on
+    // QEMU, for example. This probing check is known to not work on bare metal
+    // in all cases, so if we can get a 'yes' from ACPI, we skip it.
+    auto has_i8042_controller = false;
+    if (ACPI::Parser::the() && ACPI::Parser::the()->have_8042())
+        has_i8042_controller = true;
+    else if (m_i8042_controller->check_existence_via_probing({}))
+        has_i8042_controller = true;
+
     // Note: If we happen to not have i8042 just return "gracefully" for now.
-    if (!m_i8042_controller->check_existence({}))
+    if (!has_i8042_controller)
         return {};
     TRY(m_i8042_controller->detect_devices());
     if (m_i8042_controller->mouse())
diff --git a/Kernel/Devices/HID/I8042Controller.cpp b/Kernel/Devices/HID/I8042Controller.cpp
index a302449be0..a970d0312d 100644
--- a/Kernel/Devices/HID/I8042Controller.cpp
+++ b/Kernel/Devices/HID/I8042Controller.cpp
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ UNMAP_AFTER_INIT I8042Controller::I8042Controller()
 {
 }
 
-UNMAP_AFTER_INIT bool I8042Controller::check_existence(Badge<HIDManagement>)
+UNMAP_AFTER_INIT bool I8042Controller::check_existence_via_probing(Badge<HIDManagement>)
 {
     {
         SpinlockLocker lock(m_lock);
diff --git a/Kernel/Devices/HID/I8042Controller.h b/Kernel/Devices/HID/I8042Controller.h
index 98b85a9e85..f6d250b7b1 100644
--- a/Kernel/Devices/HID/I8042Controller.h
+++ b/Kernel/Devices/HID/I8042Controller.h
@@ -143,7 +143,7 @@ public:
     RefPtr<KeyboardDevice> keyboard() const;
 
     // Note: This function exists only for the initialization process of the controller
-    bool check_existence(Badge<HIDManagement>);
+    bool check_existence_via_probing(Badge<HIDManagement>);
 
 private:
     I8042Controller();