diff --git a/util/autoport/root.go b/util/autoport/root.go
index ca75d4b385..7e9e814506 100644
--- a/util/autoport/root.go
+++ b/util/autoport/root.go
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package main
 
 import "fmt"
+import "os"
 
 var supportedPCIDevices map[uint32]PCIDevice = map[uint32]PCIDevice{}
 var PCIMap map[PCIAddr]PCIDevData = map[PCIAddr]PCIDevData{}
@@ -26,6 +27,10 @@ func ScanRoot(ctx Context) {
 		}
 		dev.Scan(ctx, pciDev)
 	}
+	if SouthBridge == nil {
+		fmt.Println("Could not detect southbridge. Aborting!")
+		os.Exit(1)
+	}
 	dmi := ctx.InfoSource.GetDMI()
 	if !dmi.IsLaptop {
 		NoEC(ctx)