diff --git a/src/bios_dev_name.c b/src/bios_dev_name.c
index d0a917a..6be83f5 100644
--- a/src/bios_dev_name.c
+++ b/src/bios_dev_name.c
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 
 static struct bios_dev_name_opts opts;
 int nopirq;
+int allow_vm;
 int smver_mjr;
 int smver_mnr;
 int is_valid_smbios = 0;
@@ -29,6 +30,7 @@ static void usage(void)
 	fprintf(stderr, "   -P        or --prefix [string]     string use for embedded NICs (default='em')\n");
 	fprintf(stderr, "   -s        or --smbios [x.y]	       Require SMBIOS x.y or greater\n");
 	fprintf(stderr, "   -x        or --nopirq	       Don't use $PIR table for slot numbers\n");
+	fprintf(stderr, "   -V        or --allow-vm            Allow running in virtual machines\n");
 	fprintf(stderr, "   -v        or --version             Show biosdevname version\n");
 	fprintf(stderr, " Example:  biosdevname -i eth0\n");
 	fprintf(stderr, "  returns: em1\n");
@@ -64,11 +66,12 @@ parse_opts(int argc, char **argv)
 			{"prefix",      required_argument, 0, 'P'},
 			{"nopirq",	      no_argument, 0, 'x'},
 			{"smbios",	required_argument, 0, 's'},
+			{"allow-vm",          no_argument, 0, 'V'},
 			{"version",           no_argument, 0, 'v'},
 			{0, 0, 0, 0}
 		};
 		c = getopt_long(argc, argv,
-				"dip:P:xs:v",
+				"dip:P:xs:Vv",
 				long_options, &option_index);
 		if (c == -1)
 			break;
@@ -91,6 +94,9 @@ parse_opts(int argc, char **argv)
 		case 'x':
 			nopirq = 1;
 			break;
+		case 'V':
+			allow_vm = 1;
+			break;
 		case 'v':
 			fprintf(stderr, "biosdevname version %s\n",  BIOSDEVNAME_VERSION);
 			exit(0);
@@ -113,28 +119,33 @@ parse_opts(int argc, char **argv)
 static u_int32_t
 cpuid (u_int32_t eax, u_int32_t ecx)
 {
-    asm volatile (
-        "xor %%ebx, %%ebx; cpuid"
-        : "=a" (eax),  "=c" (ecx)
-        : "a" (eax)
-	: "%ebx", "%edx");
-    return ecx;
+#if defined(__x86_64__) || defined(__i386__)
+	asm volatile (
+		"xor %%ebx, %%ebx; cpuid"
+		: "=a" (eax),  "=c" (ecx)
+		: "a" (eax)
+		: "%ebx", "%edx");
+	return ecx;
+#else
+	return 0;
+#endif
 }
 
-/*
-  Algorithm suggested by:
-  http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?language=en_US&cmd=displayKC&externalId=1009458
-*/
-
 static int
 running_in_virtual_machine (void)
 {
-    u_int32_t eax=1U, ecx=0U;
-
-    ecx = cpuid (eax, ecx);
-    if (ecx & 0x80000000U)
-       return 1;
+#if defined(__x86_64__) || defined(__i386__)
+	/* Algorithm suggested by https://kb.vmware.com/s/article/1009458 */
+	u_int32_t eax=1U, ecx=0U;
+
+	ecx = cpuid (eax, ecx);
+	if (ecx & 0x80000000U)
+		return 1;
+	else
+		return 0;
+#else
     return 0;
+#endif
 }
 
 static int
@@ -158,8 +169,10 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 
 	if (!running_as_root())
 		exit(3);
-	if (running_in_virtual_machine())
+	if (!allow_vm && running_in_virtual_machine()) {
+		fprintf(stderr, "Refusing to run in a virtual machine without --allow-vm option\n");
 		exit(4);
+	}
 	cookie = setup_bios_devices(opts.namingpolicy, opts.prefix);
 	if (!cookie) {
 		rc = 1;