diff --git a/hw/i386/vmmouse.c b/hw/i386/vmmouse.c
index 7c2a375527..e8e62bd96b 100644
--- a/hw/i386/vmmouse.c
+++ b/hw/i386/vmmouse.c
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@
  */
 
 #include "qemu/osdep.h"
+#include "qapi/error.h"
 #include "ui/console.h"
 #include "hw/i386/pc.h"
 #include "hw/input/i8042.h"
@@ -269,6 +270,11 @@ static void vmmouse_realizefn(DeviceState *dev, Error **errp)
 
     DPRINTF("vmmouse_init\n");
 
+    if (!object_resolve_path_type("", TYPE_VMPORT, NULL)) {
+        error_setg(errp, "vmmouse needs a machine with vmport");
+        return;
+    }
+
     vmport_register(VMMOUSE_STATUS, vmmouse_ioport_read, s);
     vmport_register(VMMOUSE_COMMAND, vmmouse_ioport_read, s);
     vmport_register(VMMOUSE_DATA, vmmouse_ioport_read, s);