diff --git a/pkg/drivers/qemu/qemu.go b/pkg/drivers/qemu/qemu.go
index f9c1059f8849..c3772bab9504 100644
--- a/pkg/drivers/qemu/qemu.go
+++ b/pkg/drivers/qemu/qemu.go
@@ -510,7 +510,7 @@ func (d *Driver) Start() error {
 			return nil
 		}
 		// Implement a retry loop because IP address isn't added to dhcp leases file immediately
-		for i := 0; i < 30; i++ {
+		for i := 0; i < 60; i++ {
 			log.Debugf("Attempt %d", i)
 			err = getIP()
 			if err == nil {
diff --git a/pkg/minikube/registry/drvs/qemu2/qemu2.go b/pkg/minikube/registry/drvs/qemu2/qemu2.go
index 2fb43a8e5325..c23765b18893 100644
--- a/pkg/minikube/registry/drvs/qemu2/qemu2.go
+++ b/pkg/minikube/registry/drvs/qemu2/qemu2.go
@@ -125,7 +125,9 @@ func configure(cc config.ClusterConfig, n config.Node) (interface{}, error) {
 	switch runtime.GOARCH {
 	case "amd64":
 		qemuMachine = "" // default
-		qemuCPU = ""     // default
+		// set cpu type to max to enable higher microarchitecture levels
+		// see https://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/qemu-devel/2022-08/msg04066.html for details
+		qemuCPU = "max"
 	case "arm64":
 		qemuMachine = "virt"
 		qemuCPU = "cortex-a72"