diff --git a/src/xrt/targets/ctl/main.c b/src/xrt/targets/ctl/main.c
index 2af5264a0..6a80e5420 100644
--- a/src/xrt/targets/ctl/main.c
+++ b/src/xrt/targets/ctl/main.c
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 // Copyright 2020-2024, Collabora, Ltd.
+// Copyright 2025, NVIDIA CORPORATION
 // SPDX-License-Identifier: BSL-1.0
 /*!
  * @file
@@ -316,6 +317,16 @@ main(int argc, char *argv[])
 		return -1;
 	}
 
+	bool is_system_available = false;
+	xret = ipc_call_instance_is_system_available(&ipc_c, &is_system_available);
+	if (xret != XRT_SUCCESS) {
+		U_LOG_E("ipc_call_instance_is_system_available: %u", xret);
+		return -1;
+	}
+	if (!is_system_available) {
+		PE("System isn't available, devices won't be available!");
+	}
+
 	switch (op_mode) {
 	case MODE_GET: exit(get_mode(&ipc_c)); break;
 	case MODE_SET_PRIMARY: exit(set_primary(&ipc_c, s_val)); break;
diff --git a/src/xrt/targets/libmonado/monado.c b/src/xrt/targets/libmonado/monado.c
index a7ca131bd..5a9335f32 100644
--- a/src/xrt/targets/libmonado/monado.c
+++ b/src/xrt/targets/libmonado/monado.c
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 // Copyright 2019-2024, Collabora, Ltd.
+// Copyright 2025, NVIDIA CORPORATION.
 // SPDX-License-Identifier: BSL-1.0
 /*!
  * @file
@@ -147,6 +148,16 @@ mnd_root_create(mnd_root_t **out_root)
 		return MND_ERROR_CONNECTING_FAILED;
 	}
 
+	bool is_system_available = false;
+	xret = ipc_call_instance_is_system_available(&r->ipc_c, &is_system_available);
+	if (xret != XRT_SUCCESS) {
+		PE("ipc_call_instance_is_system_available: '%i'!\n", xret);
+		return -1;
+	}
+	if (!is_system_available) {
+		PE("System isn't available, devices won't be available!");
+	}
+
 	*out_root = r;
 
 	return MND_SUCCESS;