diff --git a/cpu-target.c b/cpu-target.c
index d51adfd7e3..f6e07c3deb 100644
--- a/cpu-target.c
+++ b/cpu-target.c
@@ -204,6 +204,7 @@ static Property cpu_common_props[] = {
     DEFINE_PROP_END_OF_LIST(),
 };
 
+#ifndef CONFIG_USER_ONLY
 static bool cpu_get_start_powered_off(Object *obj, Error **errp)
 {
     CPUState *cpu = CPU(obj);
@@ -215,12 +216,13 @@ static void cpu_set_start_powered_off(Object *obj, bool value, Error **errp)
     CPUState *cpu = CPU(obj);
     cpu->start_powered_off = value;
 }
+#endif
 
 void cpu_class_init_props(DeviceClass *dc)
 {
+#ifndef CONFIG_USER_ONLY
     ObjectClass *oc = OBJECT_CLASS(dc);
 
-    device_class_set_props(dc, cpu_common_props);
     /*
      * We can't use DEFINE_PROP_BOOL in the Property array for this
      * property, because we want this to be settable after realize.
@@ -228,6 +230,9 @@ void cpu_class_init_props(DeviceClass *dc)
     object_class_property_add_bool(oc, "start-powered-off",
                                    cpu_get_start_powered_off,
                                    cpu_set_start_powered_off);
+#endif
+
+    device_class_set_props(dc, cpu_common_props);
 }
 
 void cpu_exec_initfn(CPUState *cpu)