diff --git a/hw/hppa/machine.c b/hw/hppa/machine.c
index a35527cfc7..e57530950a 100644
--- a/hw/hppa/machine.c
+++ b/hw/hppa/machine.c
@@ -171,7 +171,7 @@ static void machine_hppa_init(MachineState *machine)
     qemu_log_mask(CPU_LOG_PAGE, "Firmware loaded at 0x%08" PRIx64
                   "-0x%08" PRIx64 ", entry at 0x%08" PRIx64 ".\n",
                   firmware_low, firmware_high, firmware_entry);
-    if (firmware_low < ram_size || firmware_high >= FIRMWARE_END) {
+    if (firmware_low < FIRMWARE_START || firmware_high >= FIRMWARE_END) {
         error_report("Firmware overlaps with memory or IO space");
         exit(1);
     }