diff --git a/include/hw/boards.h b/include/hw/boards.h
index 1f21bdf7ee..0bf00f7717 100644
--- a/include/hw/boards.h
+++ b/include/hw/boards.h
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@
 #ifndef HW_BOARDS_H
 #define HW_BOARDS_H
 
+#if !defined(CONFIG_USER_ONLY)
+
 #include "qemu/typedefs.h"
 #include "sysemu/blockdev.h"
 #include "sysemu/accel.h"
@@ -154,3 +156,5 @@ struct MachineState {
 };
 
 #endif
+
+#endif