diff --git a/docs/system/arm/virt.rst b/docs/system/arm/virt.rst
index 4454706392..188a4f211f 100644
--- a/docs/system/arm/virt.rst
+++ b/docs/system/arm/virt.rst
@@ -98,6 +98,19 @@ compact-highmem
   Set ``on``/``off`` to enable/disable the compact layout for high memory regions.
   The default is ``on`` for machine types later than ``virt-7.2``.
 
+highmem-redists
+  Set ``on``/``off`` to enable/disable the high memory region for GICv3 or
+  GICv4 redistributor. The default is ``on``. Setting this to ``off`` will
+  limit the maximum number of CPUs when GICv3 or GICv4 is used.
+
+highmem-ecam
+  Set ``on``/``off`` to enable/disable the high memory region for PCI ECAM.
+  The default is ``on`` for machine types later than ``virt-3.0``.
+
+highmem-mmio
+  Set ``on``/``off`` to enable/disable the high memory region for PCI MMIO.
+  The default is ``on``.
+
 gic-version
   Specify the version of the Generic Interrupt Controller (GIC) to provide.
   Valid values are:
diff --git a/hw/arm/virt.c b/hw/arm/virt.c
index 020a95cfa2..65cff7add1 100644
--- a/hw/arm/virt.c
+++ b/hw/arm/virt.c
@@ -2095,14 +2095,20 @@ static void machvirt_init(MachineState *machine)
     if (vms->gic_version == VIRT_GIC_VERSION_2) {
         virt_max_cpus = GIC_NCPU;
     } else {
-        virt_max_cpus = virt_redist_capacity(vms, VIRT_GIC_REDIST) +
-            virt_redist_capacity(vms, VIRT_HIGH_GIC_REDIST2);
+        virt_max_cpus = virt_redist_capacity(vms, VIRT_GIC_REDIST);
+        if (vms->highmem_redists) {
+            virt_max_cpus += virt_redist_capacity(vms, VIRT_HIGH_GIC_REDIST2);
+        }
     }
 
     if (max_cpus > virt_max_cpus) {
         error_report("Number of SMP CPUs requested (%d) exceeds max CPUs "
                      "supported by machine 'mach-virt' (%d)",
                      max_cpus, virt_max_cpus);
+        if (vms->gic_version != VIRT_GIC_VERSION_2 && !vms->highmem_redists) {
+            error_printf("Try 'highmem-redists=on' for more CPUs\n");
+        }
+
         exit(1);
     }
 
@@ -2371,6 +2377,49 @@ static void virt_set_compact_highmem(Object *obj, bool value, Error **errp)
     vms->highmem_compact = value;
 }
 
+static bool virt_get_highmem_redists(Object *obj, Error **errp)
+{
+    VirtMachineState *vms = VIRT_MACHINE(obj);
+
+    return vms->highmem_redists;
+}
+
+static void virt_set_highmem_redists(Object *obj, bool value, Error **errp)
+{
+    VirtMachineState *vms = VIRT_MACHINE(obj);
+
+    vms->highmem_redists = value;
+}
+
+static bool virt_get_highmem_ecam(Object *obj, Error **errp)
+{
+    VirtMachineState *vms = VIRT_MACHINE(obj);
+
+    return vms->highmem_ecam;
+}
+
+static void virt_set_highmem_ecam(Object *obj, bool value, Error **errp)
+{
+    VirtMachineState *vms = VIRT_MACHINE(obj);
+
+    vms->highmem_ecam = value;
+}
+
+static bool virt_get_highmem_mmio(Object *obj, Error **errp)
+{
+    VirtMachineState *vms = VIRT_MACHINE(obj);
+
+    return vms->highmem_mmio;
+}
+
+static void virt_set_highmem_mmio(Object *obj, bool value, Error **errp)
+{
+    VirtMachineState *vms = VIRT_MACHINE(obj);
+
+    vms->highmem_mmio = value;
+}
+
+
 static bool virt_get_its(Object *obj, Error **errp)
 {
     VirtMachineState *vms = VIRT_MACHINE(obj);
@@ -2996,6 +3045,28 @@ static void virt_machine_class_init(ObjectClass *oc, void *data)
                                           "Set on/off to enable/disable compact "
                                           "layout for high memory regions");
 
+    object_class_property_add_bool(oc, "highmem-redists",
+                                   virt_get_highmem_redists,
+                                   virt_set_highmem_redists);
+    object_class_property_set_description(oc, "highmem-redists",
+                                          "Set on/off to enable/disable high "
+                                          "memory region for GICv3 or GICv4 "
+                                          "redistributor");
+
+    object_class_property_add_bool(oc, "highmem-ecam",
+                                   virt_get_highmem_ecam,
+                                   virt_set_highmem_ecam);
+    object_class_property_set_description(oc, "highmem-ecam",
+                                          "Set on/off to enable/disable high "
+                                          "memory region for PCI ECAM");
+
+    object_class_property_add_bool(oc, "highmem-mmio",
+                                   virt_get_highmem_mmio,
+                                   virt_set_highmem_mmio);
+    object_class_property_set_description(oc, "highmem-mmio",
+                                          "Set on/off to enable/disable high "
+                                          "memory region for PCI MMIO");
+
     object_class_property_add_str(oc, "gic-version", virt_get_gic_version,
                                   virt_set_gic_version);
     object_class_property_set_description(oc, "gic-version",
