diff --git a/src/qemu/qemu_capabilities.c b/src/qemu/qemu_capabilities.c
index 4845f3ad73..e32b898bb7 100644
--- a/src/qemu/qemu_capabilities.c
+++ b/src/qemu/qemu_capabilities.c
@@ -6075,7 +6075,8 @@ virQEMUCapsFillDomainDeviceGraphicsCaps(virQEMUCaps *qemuCaps,
     dev->supported = VIR_TRISTATE_BOOL_YES;
     dev->type.report = true;
 
-    VIR_DOMAIN_CAPS_ENUM_SET(dev->type, VIR_DOMAIN_GRAPHICS_TYPE_SDL);
+    if (virQEMUCapsGet(qemuCaps, QEMU_CAPS_SDL))
+        VIR_DOMAIN_CAPS_ENUM_SET(dev->type, VIR_DOMAIN_GRAPHICS_TYPE_SDL);
     if (virQEMUCapsGet(qemuCaps, QEMU_CAPS_VNC))
         VIR_DOMAIN_CAPS_ENUM_SET(dev->type, VIR_DOMAIN_GRAPHICS_TYPE_VNC);
     if (virQEMUCapsGet(qemuCaps, QEMU_CAPS_SPICE))