diff --git a/target/riscv/cpu.c b/target/riscv/cpu.c
index b919ad9056..fb37ffac64 100644
--- a/target/riscv/cpu.c
+++ b/target/riscv/cpu.c
@@ -727,6 +727,12 @@ static void riscv_cpu_realize(DeviceState *dev, Error **errp)
             return;
         }
 
+        if (cpu->cfg.ext_h && !cpu->cfg.ext_i) {
+            error_setg(errp,
+                       "H depends on an I base integer ISA with 32 x registers");
+            return;
+        }
+
         if (cpu->cfg.ext_f && !cpu->cfg.ext_icsr) {
             error_setg(errp, "F extension requires Zicsr");
             return;