diff --git a/arch/x86/kvm/Kconfig b/arch/x86/kvm/Kconfig
index 9895fc3cd901..402ba00fdf45 100644
--- a/arch/x86/kvm/Kconfig
+++ b/arch/x86/kvm/Kconfig
@@ -46,7 +46,6 @@ config KVM_X86
 	select HAVE_KVM_PM_NOTIFIER if PM
 	select KVM_GENERIC_HARDWARE_ENABLING
 	select KVM_GENERIC_PRE_FAULT_MEMORY
-	select KVM_GENERIC_PRIVATE_MEM if KVM_SW_PROTECTED_VM
 	select KVM_WERROR if WERROR
 
 config KVM
@@ -84,6 +83,7 @@ config KVM_SW_PROTECTED_VM
 	bool "Enable support for KVM software-protected VMs"
 	depends on EXPERT
 	depends on KVM_X86 && X86_64
+	select KVM_GENERIC_PRIVATE_MEM
 	help
 	  Enable support for KVM software-protected VMs.  Currently, software-
 	  protected VMs are purely a development and testing vehicle for