diff --git a/python/packages/jumpstarter-driver-qemu/jumpstarter_driver_qemu/driver.py b/python/packages/jumpstarter-driver-qemu/jumpstarter_driver_qemu/driver.py
index 2ce25d4e7..833f7209c 100644
--- a/python/packages/jumpstarter-driver-qemu/jumpstarter_driver_qemu/driver.py
+++ b/python/packages/jumpstarter-driver-qemu/jumpstarter_driver_qemu/driver.py
@@ -29,8 +29,14 @@
 from jumpstarter.streams.encoding import AutoDecompressIterator
 
 
-def _vsock_available():
-    return platform.system() == "Linux"
+def _vsock_available(socket_path: str = "/dev/vhost-vsock") -> bool:
+    if platform.system() != "Linux":
+        return False
+
+    if not os.path.exists(socket_path):
+        return False
+
+    return os.access(socket_path, os.R_OK | os.W_OK)
 
 
 class QmpLogFilter(logging.Filter):