diff --git a/sys/arm64/arm64/machdep.c b/sys/arm64/arm64/machdep.c
--- a/sys/arm64/arm64/machdep.c
+++ b/sys/arm64/arm64/machdep.c
@@ -772,6 +772,18 @@
        identify_cpu(0);
        identify_hypervisor_smbios();

+       /*
+        * If the SMBIOS method doesn't work, we can still check if we booted
+        * into EL1 on an EL2-capable CPU.
+        */
+       if (boot_el == CURRENTEL_EL_EL1) {
+               /* Check if EL2 is implemented. */
+               uint64_t pfr0;
+               pfr0 = READ_SPECIALREG(id_aa64pfr0_el1);
+               if (ID_AA64PFR0_EL2_VAL(pfr0) != ID_AA64PFR0_EL2_NONE)
+                   vm_guest = VM_GUEST_VM;
+       }
+
        update_special_regs(0);

        /* Set the pcpu data, this is needed by pmap_bootstrap */