diff --git a/src/intel/vulkan/anv_device.c b/src/intel/vulkan/anv_device.c
index 9aeabc9b381..e68ed136d86 100644
--- a/src/intel/vulkan/anv_device.c
+++ b/src/intel/vulkan/anv_device.c
@@ -810,12 +810,18 @@ anv_physical_device_try_create(struct anv_instance *instance,
       goto fail_alloc;
    }
 
+   if (!anv_gem_get_param(fd, I915_PARAM_HAS_EXEC_FENCE_ARRAY)) {
+      result = vk_errorfi(device->instance, NULL,
+                          VK_ERROR_INITIALIZATION_FAILED,
+                          "kernel missing syncobj support");
+      goto fail_base;
+   }
+
    device->has_exec_async = anv_gem_get_param(fd, I915_PARAM_HAS_EXEC_ASYNC);
    device->has_exec_capture = anv_gem_get_param(fd, I915_PARAM_HAS_EXEC_CAPTURE);
    device->has_exec_fence = anv_gem_get_param(fd, I915_PARAM_HAS_EXEC_FENCE);
-   device->has_syncobj = anv_gem_get_param(fd, I915_PARAM_HAS_EXEC_FENCE_ARRAY);
-   device->has_syncobj_wait = device->has_syncobj &&
-                              anv_gem_supports_syncobj_wait(fd);
+   device->has_syncobj = true;
+   device->has_syncobj_wait = anv_gem_supports_syncobj_wait(fd);
    device->has_syncobj_wait_available =
       anv_gem_get_drm_cap(fd, DRM_CAP_SYNCOBJ_TIMELINE) != 0;