diff --git a/include/qemu-common.h b/include/qemu-common.h
index 2b83de395c40..ca464bb3679c 100644
--- a/include/qemu-common.h
+++ b/include/qemu-common.h
@@ -288,7 +288,9 @@ struct qemu_work_item {
 };
 
 #ifdef CONFIG_USER_ONLY
-#define qemu_init_vcpu(env) do { } while (0)
+static inline void qemu_init_vcpu(void *env)
+{
+}
 #else
 void qemu_init_vcpu(void *env);
 #endif
diff --git a/target-alpha/cpu.c b/target-alpha/cpu.c
index 212a6250bae1..40e980933f6d 100644
--- a/target-alpha/cpu.c
+++ b/target-alpha/cpu.c
@@ -26,11 +26,9 @@
 
 static void alpha_cpu_realize(Object *obj, Error **errp)
 {
-#ifndef CONFIG_USER_ONLY
     AlphaCPU *cpu = ALPHA_CPU(obj);
 
     qemu_init_vcpu(&cpu->env);
-#endif
 }
 
 /* Sort alphabetically by type name. */