diff --git a/hw/intc/apic_common.c b/hw/intc/apic_common.c
index d8fc1e2815..c13cdd7994 100644
--- a/hw/intc/apic_common.c
+++ b/hw/intc/apic_common.c
@@ -433,6 +433,7 @@ static void apic_common_set_id(Object *obj, Visitor *v, const char *name,
     APICCommonState *s = APIC_COMMON(obj);
     DeviceState *dev = DEVICE(obj);
     uint32_t value;
+    Error *local_err = NULL;
 
     if (dev->realized) {
         qdev_prop_set_after_realize(dev, name, errp);
@@ -444,7 +445,11 @@ static void apic_common_set_id(Object *obj, Visitor *v, const char *name,
     }
 
     if (value >= 255 && !cpu_has_x2apic_feature(&s->cpu->env)) {
-        error_setg(errp, "APIC ID %d requires x2APIC feature in CPU", value);
+        error_setg(&local_err,
+                   "APIC ID %d requires x2APIC feature in CPU",
+                   value);
+        error_append_hint(&local_err, "Try x2apic=on in -cpu.\n");
+        error_propagate(errp, local_err);
         return;
     }