diff --git a/os-posix.c b/os-posix.c
index 9bae8fe09e..804e20c189 100644
--- a/os-posix.c
+++ b/os-posix.c
@@ -37,6 +37,10 @@
 #include "net/slirp.h"
 #include "qemu-options.h"
 
+#ifdef CONFIG_LINUX
+#include <sys/prctl.h>
+#endif
+
 static struct passwd *user_pwd;
 static const char *chroot_dir;
 static int daemonize;
@@ -139,6 +143,26 @@ char *os_find_datadir(const char *argv0)
 #undef SHARE_SUFFIX
 #undef BUILD_SUFFIX
 
+void os_set_proc_name(const char *s)
+{
+#if defined(PR_SET_NAME)
+    char name[16];
+    if (!s)
+        return;
+    name[sizeof(name) - 1] = 0;
+    strncpy(name, s, sizeof(name));
+    /* Could rewrite argv[0] too, but that's a bit more complicated.
+       This simple way is enough for `top'. */
+    if (prctl(PR_SET_NAME, name)) {
+        perror("unable to change process name");
+        exit(1);
+    }
+#else
+    fprintf(stderr, "Change of process name not supported by your OS\n");
+    exit(1);
+#endif
+}
+
 /*
  * Parse OS specific command line options.
  * return 0 if option handled, -1 otherwise
diff --git a/qemu-os-posix.h b/qemu-os-posix.h
index cb210ba008..ed5c058bc3 100644
--- a/qemu-os-posix.h
+++ b/qemu-os-posix.h
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ static inline void os_host_main_loop_wait(int *timeout)
 }
 
 void os_set_line_buffering(void);
+void os_set_proc_name(const char *s);
 void os_setup_signal_handling(void);
 void os_daemonize(void);
 void os_setup_post(void);
diff --git a/qemu-os-win32.h b/qemu-os-win32.h
index 5a97d8d10a..6323f7f1a6 100644
--- a/qemu-os-win32.h
+++ b/qemu-os-win32.h
@@ -47,5 +47,6 @@ static inline void os_daemonize(void) {}
 static inline void os_setup_post(void) {}
 /* Win32 doesn't support line-buffering and requires size >= 2 */
 static inline void os_set_line_buffering(void) {}
+static inline void os_set_proc_name(const char *dummy) {}
 
 #endif
diff --git a/vl.c b/vl.c
index ba23e063c6..9cf53347f5 100644
--- a/vl.c
+++ b/vl.c
@@ -59,7 +59,6 @@
 #ifdef __linux__
 #include <pty.h>
 #include <malloc.h>
-#include <sys/prctl.h>
 
 #include <linux/ppdev.h>
 #include <linux/parport.h>
@@ -283,22 +282,6 @@ static int default_driver_check(QemuOpts *opts, void *opaque)
     return 0;
 }
 
-/***********************************************************/
-
-static void set_proc_name(const char *s)
-{
-#if defined(__linux__) && defined(PR_SET_NAME)
-    char name[16];
-    if (!s)
-        return;
-    name[sizeof(name) - 1] = 0;
-    strncpy(name, s, sizeof(name));
-    /* Could rewrite argv[0] too, but that's a bit more complicated.
-       This simple way is enough for `top'. */
-    prctl(PR_SET_NAME, name);
-#endif    	
-}
- 
 /***********************************************************/
 /* real time host monotonic timer */
 
@@ -2988,7 +2971,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv, char **envp)
 			    exit(1);
 			}
 			p += 8;
-			set_proc_name(p);
+			os_set_proc_name(p);
 		     }	
 		 }	
                 break;