diff --git a/src/qemu/qemu_driver.c b/src/qemu/qemu_driver.c
index b4a668a128..95dd591baa 100644
--- a/src/qemu/qemu_driver.c
+++ b/src/qemu/qemu_driver.c
@@ -4122,6 +4122,19 @@ qemuDomainSetVcpusFlags(virDomainPtr dom, unsigned int nvcpus,
             goto endjob;
         }
 
+        if (priv->agentError) {
+            virReportError(VIR_ERR_AGENT_UNRESPONSIVE, "%s",
+                           _("QEMU guest agent is not "
+                             "available due to an error"));
+            goto endjob;
+        }
+
+        if (!priv->agent) {
+            virReportError(VIR_ERR_ARGUMENT_UNSUPPORTED, "%s",
+                           _("QEMU guest agent is not configured"));
+            goto endjob;
+        }
+
         qemuDomainObjEnterAgent(vm);
         ncpuinfo = qemuAgentGetVCPUs(priv->agent, &cpuinfo);
         qemuDomainObjExitAgent(vm);
@@ -4839,6 +4852,19 @@ qemuDomainGetVcpusFlags(virDomainPtr dom, unsigned int flags)
         if (qemuDomainObjBeginJob(driver, vm, QEMU_JOB_QUERY) < 0)
             goto cleanup;
 
+        if (priv->agentError) {
+            virReportError(VIR_ERR_AGENT_UNRESPONSIVE, "%s",
+                           _("QEMU guest agent is not "
+                             "available due to an error"));
+            goto endjob;
+        }
+
+        if (!priv->agent) {
+            virReportError(VIR_ERR_ARGUMENT_UNSUPPORTED, "%s",
+                           _("QEMU guest agent is not configured"));
+            goto endjob;
+        }
+
         if (!virDomainObjIsActive(vm)) {
             virReportError(VIR_ERR_OPERATION_INVALID, "%s",
                            _("domain is not running"));