diff --git a/hw/pci/pcie_sriov.c b/hw/pci/pcie_sriov.c
index 56523ab4e8..6c79658b4c 100644
--- a/hw/pci/pcie_sriov.c
+++ b/hw/pci/pcie_sriov.c
@@ -42,6 +42,11 @@ bool pcie_sriov_pf_init(PCIDevice *dev, uint16_t offset,
     uint8_t *cfg = dev->config + offset;
     uint8_t *wmask;
 
+    if (pci_is_vf(dev)) {
+        error_setg(errp, "a device cannot be both an SR-IOV PF and a VF");
+        return false;
+    }
+
     if (total_vfs) {
         uint16_t ari_cap = pcie_find_capability(dev, PCI_EXT_CAP_ID_ARI);
         uint16_t first_vf_devfn = dev->devfn + vf_offset;