diff --git a/tools/libs/guest/xg_dom_boot.c b/tools/libs/guest/xg_dom_boot.c
index dac96b17a5..f809dcbe97 100644
--- a/tools/libs/guest/xg_dom_boot.c
+++ b/tools/libs/guest/xg_dom_boot.c
@@ -191,10 +191,6 @@ int xc_dom_boot_image(struct xc_dom_image *dom)
     }
     dom->shared_info_mfn = info.shared_info_frame;
 
-    /* sanity checks */
-    if ( !xc_dom_compat_check(dom) )
-        return -1;
-
     /* initial mm setup */
     if ( dom->arch_hooks->setup_pgtables &&
          (rc = dom->arch_hooks->setup_pgtables(dom)) != 0 )
diff --git a/tools/libs/guest/xg_dom_core.c b/tools/libs/guest/xg_dom_core.c
index 4918ee517b..2e4c1330ea 100644
--- a/tools/libs/guest/xg_dom_core.c
+++ b/tools/libs/guest/xg_dom_core.c
@@ -922,6 +922,10 @@ int xc_dom_parse_image(struct xc_dom_image *dom)
         goto err;
     }
 
+    /* Check guest ABI */
+    if ( !xc_dom_compat_check(dom) )
+        return -1;
+
     /* check features */
     for ( i = 0; i < XENFEAT_NR_SUBMAPS; i++ )
     {