diff --git a/emulators/mame.yml b/emulators/mame.yml
index a9439bbfe..b7f23ce3d 100644
--- a/emulators/mame.yml
+++ b/emulators/mame.yml
@@ -13,6 +13,26 @@ version_basis:
   path: "makefile"
   pattern: '#define BARE_BUILD_VERSION "([^"]+)"'
 display_name: "Arcade (MAME)"
+pin_build:
+  - platform: knulli
+    repo: "https://github.com/knulli-cfw/knulli-linux"
+    revision: "20260511"
+    path: "batocera/package/batocera/emulators/retroarch/libretro/libretro-mame/libretro-mame.mk"
+    variable: LIBRETRO_MAME_VERSION
+    value: "lrmame0278"
+  - platform: knulli
+    repo: "https://github.com/knulli-cfw/knulli-linux"
+    revision: "20260511"
+    path: "batocera/package/batocera/emulators/mame/mame.mk"
+    variable: MAME_VERSION
+    value: "gm0277sr221e"
+config_reads:
+  - file: "command line"
+    platforms: [knulli]
+    source_ref: "src/emu/emuopts.cpp:680-694"
+    keys:
+      - key: "-hard"
+        source_ref: "src/devices/imagedev/harddriv.h:43, src/emu/diimage.cpp:1131-1165, src/emu/emuopts.cpp:389-404, src/mame/apple/maclc3.cpp:266"
 
 cores:
   - mame
@@ -182,6 +202,13 @@ notes: |
   hash and pluginspath to plugins (src/emu/emuopts.cpp:44-46, 53), and the
   sets are read at the top of a rompath directory.
 
+  KNULLI ships libretro/mame lrmame0278 and GroovyMAME gm0277sr221e. In both
+  a machine with one hard disk image (the LC III's scsi:0 harddisk) names its
+  option -hard, the brief type name of the image (harddriv.h:43, diimage.cpp
+  update_names, emuopts.cpp get_full_option_names). GroovyMAME's diimage.cpp,
+  harddriv.h and maclc3.cpp equal mamedev mame0277, its emuopts.cpp carries
+  the same code at 396-411 and 695.
+
   BIOS root set names follow current MAME conventions. ZN-based boards
   renamed from legacy names (cpzn1 to coh1000c, atpsx to coh1000a, etc.).
   File structure uses vendor-based paths (src/mame/{vendor}/).
diff --git a/tests/test_launcher_placement.py b/tests/test_launcher_placement.py
index 5cf239dc5..2ab289e51 100644
--- a/tests/test_launcher_placement.py
+++ b/tests/test_launcher_placement.py
@@ -1148,6 +1148,20 @@ class MameOnRetroDeckRomPaths(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertEqual(places["stvbios.zip"] - {"arcade", "mame", "consolearcade"}, {"stv"})
 
 
+class MacBootDisksOnKnulli(unittest.TestCase):
+    def test_the_hard_records_bind(self) -> None:
+        # mameGenerator.py and libretroMAMEConfig.py pass the boot disk as
+        # -hard, the brief name of the LC III's one hard disk image
+        # (harddriv.h:43, diimage.cpp:1131-1165, maclc3.cpp:266).
+        from launchers import bound_launchers
+
+        config = load_platform_config("knulli", str(REPO_ROOT / "platforms"))
+        profiles = load_emulator_profiles(str(REPO_ROOT / "emulators"))
+        bound = [r for r in bound_launchers(config, profiles)
+                 if r.get("emulator") == "mame" and "-hard" in str(r.get("passes_to"))]
+        self.assertEqual(sorted(r["build"] for r in bound), ["libretro", "standalone"])
+
+
 class ArcadeParentSources(unittest.TestCase):
     def test_the_index_names_each_driver_source(self) -> None:
         import json