diff --git a/docs/formatdomain.html.in b/docs/formatdomain.html.in
index 6d0ef8e4c7..5f6ad5d0b9 100644
--- a/docs/formatdomain.html.in
+++ b/docs/formatdomain.html.in
@@ -726,7 +726,8 @@
       <dt><code>min_guarantee</code></dt>
       <dd> The optional <code>min_guarantee</code> element is the guaranteed
         minimum memory allocation for the guest. The units for this value are
-        kibibytes (i.e. blocks of 1024 bytes)</dd>
+        kibibytes (i.e. blocks of 1024 bytes). This element is only supported
+        by VMware ESX and OpenVZ drivers.</dd>
     </dl>
 
 
diff --git a/src/qemu/qemu_process.c b/src/qemu/qemu_process.c
index baa866a1ca..f68dfbee52 100644
--- a/src/qemu/qemu_process.c
+++ b/src/qemu/qemu_process.c
@@ -4020,6 +4020,13 @@ int qemuProcessStart(virConnectPtr conn,
                                     flags & VIR_QEMU_PROCESS_START_COLD) < 0)
         goto cleanup;
 
+    if (vm->def->mem.min_guarantee) {
+        virReportError(VIR_ERR_CONFIG_UNSUPPORTED, "%s",
+                       _("Parameter 'min_guarantee' "
+                         "not supported by QEMU."));
+        goto cleanup;
+    }
+
     if (VIR_ALLOC(priv->monConfig) < 0)
         goto cleanup;