diff --git a/.github/workflows/tests.yml b/.github/workflows/tests.yml
index 58bcd85..2744404 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/tests.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/tests.yml
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ on:
 
 jobs:
   tests:
-    if: github.event_name == 'push' && !startsWith(github.ref, 'refs/tags')
+    if: (github.event_name == 'push' || github.event_name == 'pull_request') && !startsWith(github.ref, 'refs/tags')
     runs-on: ${{ matrix.os }}
     strategy:
       matrix:
@@ -24,4 +24,4 @@ jobs:
         python -m pip install --upgrade pip
         python -m pip install tox tox-gh-actions
     - name: Test with tox
-      run: tox
\ No newline at end of file
+      run: tox
diff --git a/src/qemu_runner/layer.py b/src/qemu_runner/layer.py
index ad4c453..762972a 100644
--- a/src/qemu_runner/layer.py
+++ b/src/qemu_runner/layer.py
@@ -3,14 +3,20 @@
 from dataclasses import dataclass, replace
 from pathlib import Path
 from typing import List, Sequence, Dict, Protocol, Optional, Iterable
+from enum import IntEnum
 
 from .argument import Argument, ArgumentValue, build_command_line_for_argument
 from .variable_resolution import VariableResolver, resolve_no_variables, append_resolver, make_resolver_from_dict
 
 
+class Mode(IntEnum):
+    System = 0
+    User = 1
+
 @dataclass(frozen=True)
 class GeneralSettings:
     engine: str = ''
+    mode: Optional[Mode] = None
     kernel: Optional[str] = None
     kernel_cmdline: Optional[str] = None
     halted: Optional[bool] = None
@@ -46,12 +52,13 @@ def apply_general() -> GeneralSettings:
             return replace(
                 self._general,
                 engine=other.engine if other.engine != '' else self._general.engine,
+                mode=other.mode if other.mode else None,
                 kernel=other.kernel if other.kernel != '' else self._general.kernel,
                 kernel_cmdline=' '.join(cmdline) if cmdline else None,
                 halted=other.halted if other.halted is not None else self._general.halted,
                 gdb=other.gdb if other.gdb is not None else self._general.gdb,
                 gdb_dev=other.gdb_dev if other.gdb_dev is not None else self._general.gdb_dev,
-                memory=other.memory if other.memory is not None else self._general.memory
+                memory=other.memory if other.memory is not None else self._general.memory,
             )
 
         def apply_arguments() -> Iterable[Argument]:
@@ -157,6 +164,13 @@ def read_general_settings() -> GeneralSettings:
         if 'memory' in section:
             result = replace(result, memory=section['memory'])
 
+        if 'mode' in section:
+            mode = section['mode']
+            if mode != 'system' and mode != 'user':
+                raise Exception('Possible mode values: system, user')
+            result = replace(result, mode=Mode[mode.capitalize()])
+
+
         return result
 
     return Layer(
@@ -215,7 +229,8 @@ def _yield_args():
                 yield '-s'
 
         if layer.general.kernel:
-            yield '-kernel'
+            if not layer.general.mode or layer.general.mode == Mode.System:
+                yield '-kernel'
             yield layer.general.kernel
 
         if layer.general.kernel_cmdline:
diff --git a/tests/test_layer_cmdline.py b/tests/test_layer_cmdline.py
index 1d70edb..b65633c 100644
--- a/tests/test_layer_cmdline.py
+++ b/tests/test_layer_cmdline.py
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 import pytest
 
 from qemu_runner.argument import Argument
-from qemu_runner.layer import Layer, build_command_line, GeneralSettings
+from qemu_runner.layer import Layer, build_command_line, GeneralSettings, Mode
 
 MY_ENGINE = GeneralSettings(engine='my-engine')
 
@@ -38,6 +38,10 @@
         Layer(GeneralSettings(engine='my-engine', kernel='abc.elf')),
         ['my-engine', '-kernel', 'abc.elf']
     ),
+    (
+        Layer(GeneralSettings(engine='my-engine', kernel='abc.elf', mode=Mode.User)),
+        ['my-engine', 'abc.elf']
+    ),
     (
         Layer(GeneralSettings(engine='my-engine', kernel='abc.elf', kernel_cmdline='a b c')),
         ['my-engine', '-kernel', 'abc.elf', '-append', 'a b c']
diff --git a/tests/test_layer_parsing.py b/tests/test_layer_parsing.py
index a70c703..a65c341 100644
--- a/tests/test_layer_parsing.py
+++ b/tests/test_layer_parsing.py
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 import pytest
 
 from qemu_runner.argument import Argument
-from qemu_runner.layer import Layer, GeneralSettings, parse_layer
+from qemu_runner.layer import Layer, GeneralSettings, parse_layer, Mode
 
 
 @pytest.mark.parametrize(('text', 'expected'), [
@@ -30,6 +30,15 @@
             """,
             Layer(general=GeneralSettings(engine='my-engine', kernel='my-kernel.elf', kernel_cmdline='a b c'))
     ),
+    (
+            """
+            [general]
+            engine = my-engine
+            kernel = my-kernel.elf
+            mode = user
+            """,
+            Layer(general=GeneralSettings(engine='my-engine', kernel='my-kernel.elf', mode=Mode.User))
+    ),
     (
             """
             [general]