diff --git a/hw/s390x/virtio-ccw.c b/hw/s390x/virtio-ccw.c
index 3c988a000b..0e60270297 100644
--- a/hw/s390x/virtio-ccw.c
+++ b/hw/s390x/virtio-ccw.c
@@ -1121,6 +1121,12 @@ static void virtio_ccw_device_plugged(DeviceState *d, Error **errp)
         dev->max_rev = 0;
     }
 
+    if (!virtio_ccw_rev_max(dev) && !virtio_legacy_allowed(vdev)) {
+        error_setg(errp, "Invalid value of property max_rev "
+                   "(is %d expected >= 1)", virtio_ccw_rev_max(dev));
+        return;
+    }
+
     if (virtio_get_num_queues(vdev) > VIRTIO_QUEUE_MAX) {
         error_setg(errp, "The number of virtqueues %d "
                    "exceeds virtio limit %d", n,
diff --git a/hw/virtio/virtio-pci.c b/hw/virtio/virtio-pci.c
index 8554cf2a03..db8b711b35 100644
--- a/hw/virtio/virtio-pci.c
+++ b/hw/virtio/virtio-pci.c
@@ -1581,6 +1581,10 @@ static void virtio_pci_device_plugged(DeviceState *d, Error **errp)
     }
 
     if (legacy) {
+        if (!virtio_legacy_allowed(vdev)) {
+            error_setg(errp, "device is modern-only, use disable-legacy=on");
+            return;
+        }
         if (virtio_host_has_feature(vdev, VIRTIO_F_IOMMU_PLATFORM)) {
             error_setg(errp, "VIRTIO_F_IOMMU_PLATFORM was supported by"
                        " neither legacy nor transitional device");