diff --git a/usr.sbin/bhyve/bhyve_config.5 b/usr.sbin/bhyve/bhyve_config.5
--- a/usr.sbin/bhyve/bhyve_config.5
+++ b/usr.sbin/bhyve/bhyve_config.5
@@ -157,6 +157,9 @@
 This value only works when loaded with UEFI mode for VNC, and
 used a VNC client that don't support QEMU Extended Key Event
 Message (e.g. TightVNC).
+.It Va pci.enable_bars Ta bool Ta Ta
+Enable and map PCI BARs before executing any guest code.
+This setting is false by default when using a boot ROM and true otherwise.
 .It Va tpm.path Ta string Ta Ta
 Path to the host TPM device.
 This is typically /dev/tpm0.
diff --git a/usr.sbin/bhyve/pci_emul.c b/usr.sbin/bhyve/pci_emul.c
--- a/usr.sbin/bhyve/pci_emul.c
+++ b/usr.sbin/bhyve/pci_emul.c
@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@
 
 #include "acpi.h"
 #include "bhyverun.h"
+#include "bootrom.h"
 #include "config.h"
 #include "debug.h"
 #ifdef __amd64__
@@ -853,6 +854,14 @@
 		TAILQ_INSERT_BEFORE(bar, new_bar, chain);
 	}
 
+	/*
+	 * Enable PCI BARs only if we don't have a boot ROM, i.e., bhyveload was
+	 * used to load the initial guest image.  Otherwise, we rely on the boot
+	 * ROM to handle this.
+	 */
+	if (!get_config_bool_default("pci.enable_bars", !bootrom_boot()))
+		return (0);
+
 	/*
 	 * pci_passthru devices synchronize their physical and virtual command
 	 * register on init. For that reason, the virtual cmd reg should be
@@ -966,8 +975,19 @@
 		pci_set_cfgdata32(pdi, PCIR_BAR(idx + 1), bar >> 32);
 	}
 
-	if (type != PCIBAR_ROM) {
-		register_bar(pdi, idx);
+	switch (type) {
+	case PCIBAR_IO:
+		if (porten(pdi))
+			register_bar(pdi, idx);
+		break;
+	case PCIBAR_MEM32:
+	case PCIBAR_MEM64:
+	case PCIBAR_MEMHI64:
+		if (memen(pdi))
+			register_bar(pdi, idx);
+		break;
+	default:
+		break;
 	}
 
 	return (0);
@@ -1140,7 +1160,8 @@
 	pci_set_cfgdata8(pdi, PCIR_INTLINE, 255);
 	pci_set_cfgdata8(pdi, PCIR_INTPIN, 0);
 
-	pci_set_cfgdata8(pdi, PCIR_COMMAND, PCIM_CMD_BUSMASTEREN);
+	if (!get_config_bool_default("pci.enable_bars", !bootrom_boot()))
+		pci_set_cfgdata8(pdi, PCIR_COMMAND, PCIM_CMD_BUSMASTEREN);
 
 	err = (*pde->pe_init)(pdi, fi->fi_config);
 	if (err == 0)