diff --git a/docs/system/arm/cpu-features.rst b/docs/system/arm/cpu-features.rst
index ce19ae6a04..10b0eff27e 100644
--- a/docs/system/arm/cpu-features.rst
+++ b/docs/system/arm/cpu-features.rst
@@ -23,10 +23,12 @@ not implement ARMv8-A, will not have the ``aarch64`` CPU property.
 QEMU's support may be limited for some CPU features, only partially
 supporting the feature or only supporting the feature under certain
 configurations.  For example, the ``aarch64`` CPU feature, which, when
-disabled, enables the optional AArch32 CPU feature, is only supported
-when using the KVM accelerator and when running on a host CPU type that
-supports the feature.  While ``aarch64`` currently only works with KVM,
-it could work with TCG.  CPU features that are specific to KVM are
+disabled, enables the optional AArch32 CPU feature, can only be set to
+``off`` on the TCG and KVM accelerators, and it cannot be set to
+``off`` under KVM unless running on a host CPU type that supports
+running guests in AArch32.
+
+CPU features that are inherently specific to KVM are
 prefixed with "kvm-" and are described in "KVM VCPU Features".
 
 CPU Feature Probing
diff --git a/target/arm/cpu-features.h b/target/arm/cpu-features.h
index b683c9551a..6e5212ff6c 100644
--- a/target/arm/cpu-features.h
+++ b/target/arm/cpu-features.h
@@ -1071,6 +1071,11 @@ static inline bool isar_feature_aa64_aa32_el2(const ARMISARegisters *id)
     return FIELD_EX64_IDREG(id, ID_AA64PFR0, EL2) >= 2;
 }
 
+static inline bool isar_feature_aa64_aa32_el3(const ARMISARegisters *id)
+{
+    return FIELD_EX64_IDREG(id, ID_AA64PFR0, EL3) >= 2;
+}
+
 static inline bool isar_feature_aa64_ras(const ARMISARegisters *id)
 {
     return FIELD_EX64_IDREG(id, ID_AA64PFR0, RAS) != 0;
diff --git a/target/arm/cpu.c b/target/arm/cpu.c
index 6705ee9db7..9b80dda140 100644
--- a/target/arm/cpu.c
+++ b/target/arm/cpu.c
@@ -1244,10 +1244,38 @@ static void aarch64_cpu_set_aarch64(Object *obj, bool value, Error **errp)
      * uniform execution state like do_interrupt.
      */
     if (value == false) {
-        if (!kvm_enabled() || !kvm_arm_aarch32_supported()) {
-            error_setg(errp, "'aarch64' feature cannot be disabled "
-                             "unless KVM is enabled and 32-bit EL1 "
-                             "is supported");
+        if (kvm_enabled()) {
+            if (!kvm_arm_aarch32_supported()) {
+                error_setg(errp, "'aarch64' feature cannot be disabled for KVM "
+                           "because this host does not support 32-bit EL1");
+                return;
+            }
+        } else if (tcg_enabled()) {
+#ifdef CONFIG_USER_ONLY
+            error_setg(errp, "'aarch64' feature cannot be disabled for "
+                       "usermode emulator qemu-aarch64; use qemu-arm instead");
+            return;
+#else
+            bool aa32_at_highest_el;
+            if (arm_feature(&cpu->env, ARM_FEATURE_EL3)) {
+                aa32_at_highest_el = cpu_isar_feature(aa64_aa32_el3, cpu);
+            } else if (arm_feature(&cpu->env, ARM_FEATURE_EL2)) {
+                aa32_at_highest_el = cpu_isar_feature(aa64_aa32_el2, cpu);
+            } else {
+                aa32_at_highest_el = cpu_isar_feature(aa64_aa32_el1, cpu);
+            }
+
+            if (!aa32_at_highest_el) {
+                error_setg(errp, "'aarch64' feature cannot be disabled for "
+                           "this TCG CPU because it does not support 32-bit "
+                           "execution at its highest implemented exception "
+                           "level");
+                return;
+            }
+#endif
+        } else {
+            error_setg(errp, "'aarch64' feature cannot be disabled for "
+                       "this accelerator");
             return;
         }
         unset_feature(&cpu->env, ARM_FEATURE_AARCH64);
diff --git a/tests/qtest/arm-cpu-features.c b/tests/qtest/arm-cpu-features.c
index bbdd89a81d..cb4d01fd46 100644
--- a/tests/qtest/arm-cpu-features.c
+++ b/tests/qtest/arm-cpu-features.c
@@ -493,12 +493,8 @@ static void test_query_cpu_model_expansion(const void *data)
         sve_tests_default(qts, "max");
         pauth_tests_default(qts, "max");
 
-        /* Test that features that depend on KVM generate errors without. */
-        assert_error(qts, "max",
-                     "'aarch64' feature cannot be disabled "
-                     "unless KVM is enabled and 32-bit EL1 "
-                     "is supported",
-                     "{ 'aarch64': false }");
+        /* TCG allows us to turn off AArch64 on the 'max' CPU type */
+        assert_set_feature(qts, "max", "aarch64", false);
     }
 
     qtest_quit(qts);