diff --git a/devices/src/pci/ac97.rs b/devices/src/pci/ac97.rs
index e03e918f25..bd6f36410d 100644
--- a/devices/src/pci/ac97.rs
+++ b/devices/src/pci/ac97.rs
@@ -82,6 +82,8 @@ pub struct Ac97Parameters {
     pub vios_server_path: Option<PathBuf>,
     #[cfg(feature = "audio_cras")]
     client_type: Option<CrasClientType>,
+    #[cfg(feature = "audio_cras")]
+    socket_type: Option<CrasSocketType>,
 }
 
 impl Ac97Parameters {
@@ -93,6 +95,18 @@ impl Ac97Parameters {
         self.client_type = Some(client_type.parse()?);
         Ok(())
     }
+
+    /// Set CRAS socket type by given socket type string.
+    ///
+    /// `socket_type` - The socket type string.
+    #[cfg(feature = "audio_cras")]
+    pub fn set_socket_type(
+        &mut self,
+        socket_type: &str,
+    ) -> std::result::Result<(), libcras::Error> {
+        self.socket_type = Some(socket_type.parse()?);
+        Ok(())
+    }
 }
 
 pub struct Ac97Dev {
@@ -168,7 +182,7 @@ impl Ac97Dev {
     #[cfg(feature = "audio_cras")]
     fn create_cras_audio_device(params: Ac97Parameters, mem: GuestMemory) -> Result<Self> {
         let mut server = Box::new(
-            CrasClient::with_type(CrasSocketType::Unified)
+            CrasClient::with_type(params.socket_type.unwrap_or(CrasSocketType::Unified))
                 .map_err(pci_device::Error::CreateCrasClientFailed)?,
         );
         server.set_client_type(
diff --git a/src/main.rs b/src/main.rs
index 3ecb80d991..5c71afc6a6 100644
--- a/src/main.rs
+++ b/src/main.rs
@@ -546,6 +546,15 @@ fn parse_ac97_options(s: &str) -> argument::Result<Ac97Parameters> {
                         expected: e.to_string(),
                     })?;
             }
+            #[cfg(feature = "audio_cras")]
+            "socket_type" => {
+                ac97_params
+                    .set_socket_type(v)
+                    .map_err(|e| argument::Error::InvalidValue {
+                        value: v.to_string(),
+                        expected: e.to_string(),
+                    })?;
+            }
             #[cfg(any(target_os = "linux", target_os = "android"))]
             "server" => {
                 ac97_params.vios_server_path =
@@ -2095,6 +2104,7 @@ fn run_vm(args: std::env::Args) -> std::result::Result<(), ()> {
                               capture - Enable audio capture
                               capture_effects - | separated effects to be enabled for recording. The only supported effect value now is EchoCancellation or aec.
                               client_type - Set specific client type for cras backend.
+                              socket_type - Set specific socket type for cras backend.
                               server - The to the VIOS server (unix socket)."),
           #[cfg(feature = "audio")]
           Argument::value("sound", "[PATH]", "Path to the VioS server socket for setting up virtio-snd devices."),
@@ -2955,6 +2965,13 @@ mod tests {
             .expect_err("parse should have failed");
     }
 
+    #[cfg(feature = "audio_cras")]
+    #[test]
+    fn parse_ac97_socket_type() {
+        parse_ac97_options("socket_type=unified").expect("parse should have succeded");
+        parse_ac97_options("socket_type=legacy").expect("parse should have succeded");
+    }
+
     #[cfg(feature = "audio")]
     #[test]
     fn parse_ac97_vios_valid() {