diff --git a/monitor.c b/monitor.c
index 46814af533..9e50418afe 100644
--- a/monitor.c
+++ b/monitor.c
@@ -3371,6 +3371,12 @@ static void handle_hmp_command(Monitor *mon, const char *cmdline)
 
     trace_handle_hmp_command(mon, cmdline);
 
+    if (runstate_check(RUN_STATE_PRECONFIG)) {
+        monitor_printf(mon, "HMP not available in preconfig state, "
+                            "use QMP instead\n");
+        return;
+    }
+
     cmd = monitor_parse_command(mon, cmdline, &cmdline, mon->cmd_table);
     if (!cmd) {
         return;