diff --git a/hw/core/machine-smp.c b/hw/core/machine-smp.c
index b954eb8490..4e020c358b 100644
--- a/hw/core/machine-smp.c
+++ b/hw/core/machine-smp.c
@@ -321,6 +321,13 @@ bool machine_parse_smp_cache(MachineState *ms,
             return false;
         }
 
+        if (props->topology == CPU_TOPOLOGY_LEVEL_THREAD) {
+            error_setg(errp,
+                       "%s level cache not supported by this machine",
+                       CpuTopologyLevel_str(props->topology));
+            return false;
+        }
+
         if (!machine_check_topo_support(ms, props->topology, errp)) {
             return false;
         }