diff --git a/os/run/failsafe.run b/os/run/failsafe.run
index fb3784b5f..a2d67d93c 100644
--- a/os/run/failsafe.run
+++ b/os/run/failsafe.run
@@ -19,6 +19,10 @@ if {[have_spec fiasco]} {
 	#
 	exit 0
 }
+if {[have_spec hw]} {
+	puts "Hw kernel is unsupported (see https://github.com/genodelabs/genode/issues/801)"
+	exit 0
+}
 
 #
 # Build