diff --git a/src/qemu/qemu_driver.c b/src/qemu/qemu_driver.c
index 4279af865a..2c55fb0a86 100644
--- a/src/qemu/qemu_driver.c
+++ b/src/qemu/qemu_driver.c
@@ -4890,7 +4890,8 @@ qemuDomainSetVcpusFlags(virDomainPtr dom, unsigned int nvcpus,
                                         &persistentDef) < 0)
         goto endjob;
 
-    if (flags & VIR_DOMAIN_AFFECT_LIVE && !(flags & VIR_DOMAIN_VCPU_GUEST)) {
+    if (flags & VIR_DOMAIN_AFFECT_LIVE && !(flags & VIR_DOMAIN_VCPU_GUEST) &&
+        virNumaIsAvailable()) {
         if (virCgroupNewEmulator(priv->cgroup, false, &cgroup_temp) < 0)
             goto endjob;