diff --git a/src/gallium/frontends/lavapipe/lvp_device.c b/src/gallium/frontends/lavapipe/lvp_device.c
index 45734f9..2832402 100644
--- a/src/gallium/frontends/lavapipe/lvp_device.c
+++ b/src/gallium/frontends/lavapipe/lvp_device.c
@@ -118,6 +118,9 @@ VkResult lvp_CreateInstance(
       client_version = VK_API_VERSION_1_0;
    }
 
+   if (!getenv("RH_SW_VULKAN"))
+      return VK_ERROR_INITIALIZATION_FAILED;
+
    instance = vk_zalloc2(&default_alloc, pAllocator, sizeof(*instance), 8,
                          VK_SYSTEM_ALLOCATION_SCOPE_INSTANCE);
    if (!instance)