diff --git a/hw/mips/loongson3_virt.c b/hw/mips/loongson3_virt.c
index 3dd91da7a6..4018b8c1d3 100644
--- a/hw/mips/loongson3_virt.c
+++ b/hw/mips/loongson3_virt.c
@@ -481,8 +481,8 @@ static void mips_loongson3_virt_init(MachineState *machine)
         if (!machine->cpu_type) {
             machine->cpu_type = MIPS_CPU_TYPE_NAME("Loongson-3A1000");
         }
-        if (!strstr(machine->cpu_type, "Loongson-3A1000")) {
-            error_report("Loongson-3/TCG needs cpu type Loongson-3A1000");
+        if (!cpu_type_supports_isa(machine->cpu_type, INSN_LOONGSON3A)) {
+            error_report("Loongson-3/TCG needs a Loongson-3 series cpu");
             exit(1);
         }
     } else {