diff --git a/target/ppc/kvm_ppc.h b/target/ppc/kvm_ppc.h
index 6a4dd9c560..1975fb5ee6 100644
--- a/target/ppc/kvm_ppc.h
+++ b/target/ppc/kvm_ppc.h
@@ -13,6 +13,10 @@
 #include "exec/hwaddr.h"
 #include "cpu.h"
 
+#ifdef CONFIG_USER_ONLY
+#error Cannot include kvm_ppc.h from user emulation
+#endif
+
 #ifdef CONFIG_KVM
 
 uint32_t kvmppc_get_tbfreq(void);