diff --git a/vl.c b/vl.c
index ea46bdc9c1..e7cd9668f5 100644
--- a/vl.c
+++ b/vl.c
@@ -876,7 +876,9 @@ static void host_alarm_handler(int host_signum)
         /* stop the cpu because a timer occured */
         cpu_interrupt(global_env, CPU_INTERRUPT_EXIT);
 #ifdef USE_KQEMU
-        kqemu_cpu_interrupt(global_env);
+        if (global_env->kqemu_enabled) {
+            kqemu_cpu_interrupt(global_env);
+        }
 #endif
     }
 }