diff --git a/hw/arm/aspeed.c b/hw/arm/aspeed.c
index 53a859a6e4..d9418e2b9f 100644
--- a/hw/arm/aspeed.c
+++ b/hw/arm/aspeed.c
@@ -456,14 +456,14 @@ static void aspeed_machine_init(MachineState *machine)
         amc->i2c_init(bmc);
     }
 
-    for (i = 0; i < bmc->soc->sdhci.num_slots; i++) {
+    for (i = 0; i < bmc->soc->sdhci.num_slots && defaults_enabled(); i++) {
         sdhci_attach_drive(&bmc->soc->sdhci.slots[i],
                            drive_get(IF_SD, 0, i), false, false);
     }
 
     boot_emmc = sc->boot_from_emmc(bmc->soc);
 
-    if (bmc->soc->emmc.num_slots) {
+    if (bmc->soc->emmc.num_slots && defaults_enabled()) {
         emmc0 = drive_get(IF_SD, 0, bmc->soc->sdhci.num_slots);
         sdhci_attach_drive(&bmc->soc->emmc.slots[0], emmc0, true, boot_emmc);
     }