diff --git a/hw/mem/memory-device.c b/hw/mem/memory-device.c
index 1636db9679..49f86ec8a8 100644
--- a/hw/mem/memory-device.c
+++ b/hw/mem/memory-device.c
@@ -104,15 +104,10 @@ static uint64_t memory_device_get_free_addr(MachineState *ms,
     GSList *list = NULL, *item;
     Range as, new = range_empty;
 
-    if (!ms->device_memory) {
-        error_setg(errp, "memory devices (e.g. for memory hotplug) are not "
-                         "supported by the machine");
-        return 0;
-    }
-
-    if (!memory_region_size(&ms->device_memory->mr)) {
-        error_setg(errp, "memory devices (e.g. for memory hotplug) are not "
-                         "enabled, please specify the maxmem option");
+    if (!ms->device_memory || !memory_region_size(&ms->device_memory->mr)) {
+        error_setg(errp, "the configuration is not prepared for memory devices"
+                         " (e.g., for memory hotplug), consider specifying the"
+                         " maxmem option");
         return 0;
     }
     range_init_nofail(&as, ms->device_memory->base,