diff --git a/dom0/qvm-core/qubes.py b/dom0/qvm-core/qubes.py
index 333212e8..cf6e72b3 100755
--- a/dom0/qvm-core/qubes.py
+++ b/dom0/qvm-core/qubes.py
@@ -78,6 +78,8 @@ default_servicevm_vcpus = 1
 default_kernelopts = ""
 default_kernelopts_pcidevs = "iommu=soft swiotlb=2048"
 
+config_template_pv = '/usr/share/qubes/vm-template.conf'
+
 qubes_whitelisted_appmenus = 'whitelisted-appmenus.list'
 
 dom0_update_check_interval = 6*3600
@@ -238,6 +240,8 @@ class QubesVm(object):
 
         self.firewall_conf = self.absolute_path(firewall_conf, default_firewall_conf_file)
 
+        self.config_file_template = config_template_pv
+
         self.updateable = updateable
         self.label = label if label is not None else QubesVmLabels["red"]
         if self.dir_path is not None:
@@ -804,7 +808,7 @@ class QubesVm(object):
         if source_template is None:
             source_template = self.template_vm
 
-        f_conf_template = open('/usr/share/qubes/vm-template.conf', 'r')
+        f_conf_template = open(self.config_file_template, 'r')
         conf_template = f_conf_template.read()
         f_conf_template.close()