diff --git a/target/arm/cpu.c b/target/arm/cpu.c
index 07492e9f9a..40f3f798b2 100644
--- a/target/arm/cpu.c
+++ b/target/arm/cpu.c
@@ -1674,7 +1674,7 @@ static void arm_cpu_realizefn(DeviceState *dev, Error **errp)
         }
     }
 
-    if (!cpu->has_el3) {
+    if (!arm_feature(env, ARM_FEATURE_M) && !cpu->has_el3) {
         /* If the has_el3 CPU property is disabled then we need to disable the
          * feature.
          */