diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index cfa98e9e25..3276f738ae 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -2864,6 +2864,7 @@ foreach target : target_dirs
     endif
     config_target += { 'CONFIG_BSD_USER': 'y' }
   elif target.endswith('softmmu')
+    config_target += { 'CONFIG_SYSTEM_ONLY': 'y' }
     config_target += { 'CONFIG_SOFTMMU': 'y' }
   endif
   if target.endswith('-user')