diff --git a/numa.c b/numa.c
index fe74e1eeaf..c975fb2682 100644
--- a/numa.c
+++ b/numa.c
@@ -200,6 +200,16 @@ static void validate_numa_cpus(void)
         bitmap_or(seen_cpus, seen_cpus,
                   numa_info[i].node_cpu, MAX_CPUMASK_BITS);
     }
+
+    if (!bitmap_full(seen_cpus, max_cpus)) {
+        char *msg;
+        bitmap_complement(seen_cpus, seen_cpus, max_cpus);
+        msg = enumerate_cpus(seen_cpus, max_cpus);
+        error_report("warning: CPU(s) not present in any NUMA nodes: %s", msg);
+        error_report("warning: All CPU(s) up to maxcpus should be described "
+                     "in NUMA config");
+        g_free(msg);
+    }
 }
 
 void parse_numa_opts(MachineClass *mc)