diff --git a/src/conf/cpu_conf.c b/src/conf/cpu_conf.c
index 33c8b99e495dec2ad7106dd63bf86c9953cdb53b..bd2beab33eee1951016659c6c171b76f39d16a2f 100644
--- a/src/conf/cpu_conf.c
+++ b/src/conf/cpu_conf.c
@@ -894,6 +894,13 @@ virCPUDefIsEqual(virCPUDefPtr src,
         goto cleanup;
     }
 
+    if (src->check != dst->check) {
+        MISMATCH(_("Target CPU check %s does not match source %s"),
+                 virCPUCheckTypeToString(dst->check),
+                 virCPUCheckTypeToString(src->check));
+        goto cleanup;
+    }
+
     if (src->arch != dst->arch) {
         MISMATCH(_("Target CPU arch %s does not match source %s"),
                  virArchToString(dst->arch),