diff --git a/hw/intc/armv7m_nvic.c b/hw/intc/armv7m_nvic.c
index 3c4b6e6d70..277a98b87b 100644
--- a/hw/intc/armv7m_nvic.c
+++ b/hw/intc/armv7m_nvic.c
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
 #include "hw/intc/armv7m_nvic.h"
 #include "hw/irq.h"
 #include "hw/qdev-properties.h"
+#include "sysemu/runstate.h"
 #include "target/arm/cpu.h"
 #include "exec/exec-all.h"
 #include "exec/memop.h"
@@ -64,6 +65,20 @@ static const uint8_t nvic_id[] = {
     0x00, 0xb0, 0x1b, 0x00, 0x0d, 0xe0, 0x05, 0xb1
 };
 
+static void signal_sysresetreq(NVICState *s)
+{
+    if (qemu_irq_is_connected(s->sysresetreq)) {
+        qemu_irq_pulse(s->sysresetreq);
+    } else {
+        /*
+         * Default behaviour if the SoC doesn't need to wire up
+         * SYSRESETREQ (eg to a system reset controller of some kind):
+         * perform a system reset via the usual QEMU API.
+         */
+        qemu_system_reset_request(SHUTDOWN_CAUSE_GUEST_RESET);
+    }
+}
+
 static int nvic_pending_prio(NVICState *s)
 {
     /* return the group priority of the current pending interrupt,
@@ -1524,7 +1539,7 @@ static void nvic_writel(NVICState *s, uint32_t offset, uint32_t value,
             if (value & R_V7M_AIRCR_SYSRESETREQ_MASK) {
                 if (attrs.secure ||
                     !(cpu->env.v7m.aircr & R_V7M_AIRCR_SYSRESETREQS_MASK)) {
-                    qemu_irq_pulse(s->sysresetreq);
+                    signal_sysresetreq(s);
                 }
             }
             if (value & R_V7M_AIRCR_VECTCLRACTIVE_MASK) {
diff --git a/include/hw/arm/armv7m.h b/include/hw/arm/armv7m.h
index d2c74d3872..a30e3c6471 100644
--- a/include/hw/arm/armv7m.h
+++ b/include/hw/arm/armv7m.h
@@ -35,7 +35,9 @@ typedef struct {
 
 /* ARMv7M container object.
  * + Unnamed GPIO input lines: external IRQ lines for the NVIC
- * + Named GPIO output SYSRESETREQ: signalled for guest AIRCR.SYSRESETREQ
+ * + Named GPIO output SYSRESETREQ: signalled for guest AIRCR.SYSRESETREQ.
+ *   If this GPIO is not wired up then the NVIC will default to performing
+ *   a qemu_system_reset_request(SHUTDOWN_CAUSE_GUEST_RESET).
  * + Property "cpu-type": CPU type to instantiate
  * + Property "num-irq": number of external IRQ lines
  * + Property "memory": MemoryRegion defining the physical address space