diff --git a/src/panfrost/vulkan/panvk_physical_device.c b/src/panfrost/vulkan/panvk_physical_device.c
index 17d1b925e82..ecc22ba0325 100644
--- a/src/panfrost/vulkan/panvk_physical_device.c
+++ b/src/panfrost/vulkan/panvk_physical_device.c
@@ -911,6 +911,14 @@ panvk_physical_device_init(struct panvk_physical_device *device,
 
    unsigned arch = pan_arch(device->kmod.props.gpu_prod_id);
 
+   if (!device->model) {
+      result = panvk_errorf(instance, VK_ERROR_INCOMPATIBLE_DRIVER,
+                            "Unknown gpu_id (%#x) or variant (%#x)",
+                            device->kmod.props.gpu_prod_id,
+                            device->kmod.props.gpu_variant);
+      goto fail;
+   }
+
    switch (arch) {
    case 6:
    case 7: