if (!page_address_valid(vcpu, kvm_state->vmx.vmxon_pa))
                return -EINVAL;
 
-       if (kvm_state->size < sizeof(kvm_state) + sizeof(*vmcs12))
-               return -EINVAL;
-
-       if (kvm_state->vmx.vmcs_pa == kvm_state->vmx.vmxon_pa ||
-           !page_address_valid(vcpu, kvm_state->vmx.vmcs_pa))
-               return -EINVAL;
-
        if ((kvm_state->vmx.smm.flags & KVM_STATE_NESTED_SMM_GUEST_MODE) &&
            (kvm_state->flags & KVM_STATE_NESTED_GUEST_MODE))
                return -EINVAL;
        if (ret)
                return ret;
 
+       /* Empty 'VMXON' state is permitted */
+       if (kvm_state->size < sizeof(kvm_state) + sizeof(*vmcs12))
+               return 0;
+
+       if (kvm_state->vmx.vmcs_pa == kvm_state->vmx.vmxon_pa ||
+           !page_address_valid(vcpu, kvm_state->vmx.vmcs_pa))
+               return -EINVAL;
+
        set_current_vmptr(vmx, kvm_state->vmx.vmcs_pa);
 
        if (kvm_state->vmx.smm.flags & KVM_STATE_NESTED_SMM_VMXON) {