diff --git a/hw/arm/virt.c b/hw/arm/virt.c
index dbb3c8036a..cda4b83586 100644
--- a/hw/arm/virt.c
+++ b/hw/arm/virt.c
@@ -169,6 +169,7 @@ static const char *valid_cpus[] = {
     ARM_CPU_TYPE_NAME("cortex-a53"),
     ARM_CPU_TYPE_NAME("cortex-a57"),
     ARM_CPU_TYPE_NAME("host"),
+    ARM_CPU_TYPE_NAME("max"),
 };
 
 static bool cpu_type_valid(const char *cpu)