diff --git a/cpus.c b/cpus.c
index c996ac5fd6..b60410c403 100644
--- a/cpus.c
+++ b/cpus.c
@@ -869,7 +869,7 @@ void qemu_cpu_kick(void *_env)
     CPUState *env = _env;
 
     qemu_cond_broadcast(env->halt_cond);
-    if (!env->thread_kicked) {
+    if (kvm_enabled() && !env->thread_kicked) {
         qemu_cpu_kick_thread(env);
         env->thread_kicked = true;
     }