diff --git a/target/s390x/cpu_models.c b/target/s390x/cpu_models.c
index cfdbccf46d..604898a882 100644
--- a/target/s390x/cpu_models.c
+++ b/target/s390x/cpu_models.c
@@ -716,6 +716,14 @@ CpuModelBaselineInfo *arch_query_cpu_model_baseline(CpuModelInfo *infoa,
 
     model.def = s390_find_cpu_def(cpu_type, max_gen, max_gen_ga,
                                   model.features);
+
+    /* models without early base features (esan3) are bad */
+    if (!model.def) {
+        error_setg(errp, "No compatible CPU model could be created as"
+                   " important base features are disabled");
+        return NULL;
+    }
+
     /* strip off features not part of the max model */
     bitmap_and(model.features, model.features, model.def->full_feat,
                S390_FEAT_MAX);