diff --git a/vl.c b/vl.c
index f169aac..d2857a4 100644
--- a/vl.c
+++ b/vl.c
@@ -3226,8 +3226,12 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv, char **envp)
         fprintf(stderr, "could not initialize alarm timer\n");
         exit(1);
     }
-    configure_icount(icount_option);
-
+    if (!kvm_enabled()) {
+        configure_icount(icount_option);
+    } else {
+        fprintf(stderr, "-icount option only allowed without kvm accelerator\n");
+        exit(1);
+    }
     if (net_init_clients() < 0) {
         exit(1);
     }