diff --git a/docs/specs/ppc-spapr-xive.rst b/docs/specs/ppc-spapr-xive.rst
index 7199db730b..7144347560 100644
--- a/docs/specs/ppc-spapr-xive.rst
+++ b/docs/specs/ppc-spapr-xive.rst
@@ -126,6 +126,9 @@ xics            XICS KVM       XICS emul.     XICS KVM
 
 (1) QEMU warns with ``warning: kernel_irqchip requested but unavailable:
     IRQ_XIVE capability must be present for KVM``
+    In some cases (old host kernels or KVM nested guests), one may hit a
+    QEMU/KVM incompatibility due to device destruction in reset. QEMU fails
+    with ``KVM is incompatible with ic-mode=dual,kernel-irqchip=on``
 (2) QEMU fails with ``kernel_irqchip requested but unavailable:
     IRQ_XIVE capability must be present for KVM``
 
@@ -148,7 +151,7 @@ xics            XICS KVM       XICS emul.     XICS KVM
     mode (XICS), either don't set the ic-mode machine property or try
     ic-mode=xics or ic-mode=dual``
 (4) QEMU/KVM incompatibility due to device destruction in reset. QEMU fails
-    with ``KVM is too old to support ic-mode=dual,kernel-irqchip=on``
+    with ``KVM is incompatible with ic-mode=dual,kernel-irqchip=on``
 
 
 XIVE Device tree properties
diff --git a/hw/ppc/spapr_irq.c b/hw/ppc/spapr_irq.c
index 2f8f7d62f8..72bb938375 100644
--- a/hw/ppc/spapr_irq.c
+++ b/hw/ppc/spapr_irq.c
@@ -139,6 +139,7 @@ SpaprIrq spapr_irq_dual = {
 
 static int spapr_irq_check(SpaprMachineState *spapr, Error **errp)
 {
+    ERRP_GUARD();
     MachineState *machine = MACHINE(spapr);
 
     /*
@@ -179,14 +180,19 @@ static int spapr_irq_check(SpaprMachineState *spapr, Error **errp)
 
     /*
      * On a POWER9 host, some older KVM XICS devices cannot be destroyed and
-     * re-created. Detect that early to avoid QEMU to exit later when the
-     * guest reboots.
+     * re-created. Same happens with KVM nested guests. Detect that early to
+     * avoid QEMU to exit later when the guest reboots.
      */
     if (kvm_enabled() &&
         spapr->irq == &spapr_irq_dual &&
         kvm_kernel_irqchip_required() &&
         xics_kvm_has_broken_disconnect(spapr)) {
-        error_setg(errp, "KVM is too old to support ic-mode=dual,kernel-irqchip=on");
+        error_setg(errp,
+            "KVM is incompatible with ic-mode=dual,kernel-irqchip=on");
+        error_append_hint(errp,
+            "This can happen with an old KVM or in a KVM nested guest.\n");
+        error_append_hint(errp,
+            "Try without kernel-irqchip or with kernel-irqchip=off.\n");
         return -1;
     }