diff --git a/hw/arm/virt.c b/hw/arm/virt.c
index a4537af400..b334c82eda 100644
--- a/hw/arm/virt.c
+++ b/hw/arm/virt.c
@@ -1404,7 +1404,7 @@ static void machvirt_init(MachineState *machine)
                                      "secure-memory", &error_abort);
         }
 
-        object_property_set_bool(cpuobj, true, "realized", NULL);
+        object_property_set_bool(cpuobj, true, "realized", &error_fatal);
         object_unref(cpuobj);
     }
     fdt_add_timer_nodes(vms);