diff --git a/target/ppc/excp_helper.c b/target/ppc/excp_helper.c
index fcc83a7701..6b6ec71bc2 100644
--- a/target/ppc/excp_helper.c
+++ b/target/ppc/excp_helper.c
@@ -1278,6 +1278,18 @@ static void powerpc_excp_booke(PowerPCCPU *cpu, int excp)
 }
 
 #ifdef TARGET_PPC64
+/*
+ * When running under vhyp, hcalls are always intercepted and sent to the
+ * vhc->hypercall handler.
+ */
+static bool books_vhyp_handles_hcall(PowerPCCPU *cpu)
+{
+    if (cpu->vhyp) {
+        return true;
+    }
+    return false;
+}
+
 static void powerpc_excp_books(PowerPCCPU *cpu, int excp)
 {
     CPUState *cs = CPU(cpu);
@@ -1439,7 +1451,7 @@ static void powerpc_excp_books(PowerPCCPU *cpu, int excp)
         env->nip += 4;
 
         /* "PAPR mode" built-in hypercall emulation */
-        if ((lev == 1) && cpu->vhyp) {
+        if ((lev == 1) && books_vhyp_handles_hcall(cpu)) {
             PPCVirtualHypervisorClass *vhc =
                 PPC_VIRTUAL_HYPERVISOR_GET_CLASS(cpu->vhyp);
             vhc->hypercall(cpu->vhyp, cpu);