semantic: 0.173 other: 0.123 device: 0.119 graphic: 0.115 files: 0.113 vnc: 0.076 network: 0.061 performance: 0.037 socket: 0.037 boot: 0.036 permissions: 0.033 PID: 0.032 debug: 0.030 KVM: 0.015 debug: 0.615 files: 0.093 other: 0.076 performance: 0.062 PID: 0.053 network: 0.026 semantic: 0.016 KVM: 0.016 device: 0.013 boot: 0.011 socket: 0.008 permissions: 0.004 vnc: 0.004 graphic: 0.003 where the trace file "trace-*" I compile qemu-system-aarch64 with --enable-trace-backends=simple option, then start qemu with -trace nvme* , qemu start successful but I cann't find the trace file "trace-*" at qemu started directory. I tested qemu.git/master on Linux x86_64 to confirm that the simple trace backend works. trace-$pid files are written to the current working directory. If QEMU prints a warning that the trace event name does not exist, try escaping the asterisk on your command-line: -trace nvme\* You can find the trace-event files in the source tree, if you were talking about those. Anyway, this does not really sound like a bug, so I'm closing this ticket now. If you need general help, please use the qemu-discuss mailing list or the #qemu channel on OFTC IRC instead.