diff --git a/target/riscv/cpu.c b/target/riscv/cpu.c
index 13e55ec5bd..aec7830c44 100644
--- a/target/riscv/cpu.c
+++ b/target/riscv/cpu.c
@@ -925,13 +925,18 @@ static void riscv_cpu_realize(DeviceState *dev, Error **errp)
 
     if (cpu->cfg.pmp) {
         riscv_set_feature(env, RISCV_FEATURE_PMP);
+    }
+
+    if (cpu->cfg.epmp) {
+        riscv_set_feature(env, RISCV_FEATURE_EPMP);
 
         /*
          * Enhanced PMP should only be available
          * on harts with PMP support
          */
-        if (cpu->cfg.epmp) {
-            riscv_set_feature(env, RISCV_FEATURE_EPMP);
+        if (!cpu->cfg.pmp) {
+            error_setg(errp, "Invalid configuration: EPMP requires PMP support");
+            return;
         }
     }