diff --git a/Documentation/s390/vfio-ccw.rst b/Documentation/s390/vfio-ccw.rst
index fca9c4f5bd9c..23e7d136f8b4 100644
--- a/Documentation/s390/vfio-ccw.rst
+++ b/Documentation/s390/vfio-ccw.rst
@@ -335,6 +335,12 @@ device.
 The current code allows the guest to start channel programs via
 START SUBCHANNEL, and to issue HALT SUBCHANNEL and CLEAR SUBCHANNEL.
 
+Currently all channel programs are prefetched, regardless of the
+p-bit setting in the ORB.  As a result, self modifying channel
+programs are not supported.  For this reason, IPL has to be handled as
+a special case by a userspace/guest program; this has been implemented
+in QEMU's s390-ccw bios as of QEMU 4.1.
+
 vfio-ccw supports classic (command mode) channel I/O only. Transport
 mode (HPF) is not supported.
 
diff --git a/drivers/s390/cio/vfio_ccw_cp.c b/drivers/s390/cio/vfio_ccw_cp.c
index 3645d1720c4b..b9febc581b1f 100644
--- a/drivers/s390/cio/vfio_ccw_cp.c
+++ b/drivers/s390/cio/vfio_ccw_cp.c
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
  *            Xiao Feng Ren <renxiaof@linux.vnet.ibm.com>
  */
 
+#include <linux/ratelimit.h>
 #include <linux/mm.h>
 #include <linux/slab.h>
 #include <linux/iommu.h>
@@ -625,23 +626,27 @@ static int ccwchain_fetch_one(struct ccwchain *chain,
  * the target channel program from @orb->cmd.iova to the new ccwchain(s).
  *
  * Limitations:
- * 1. Supports only prefetch enabled mode.
- * 2. Supports idal(c64) ccw chaining.
- * 3. Supports 4k idaw.
+ * 1. Supports idal(c64) ccw chaining.
+ * 2. Supports 4k idaw.
  *
  * Returns:
  *   %0 on success and a negative error value on failure.
  */
 int cp_init(struct channel_program *cp, struct device *mdev, union orb *orb)
 {
+	/* custom ratelimit used to avoid flood during guest IPL */
+	static DEFINE_RATELIMIT_STATE(ratelimit_state, 5 * HZ, 1);
 	int ret;
 
 	/*
-	 * XXX:
-	 * Only support prefetch enable mode now.
+	 * We only support prefetching the channel program. We assume all channel
+	 * programs executed by supported guests likewise support prefetching.
+	 * Executing a channel program that does not specify prefetching will
+	 * typically not cause an error, but a warning is issued to help identify
+	 * the problem if something does break.
 	 */
-	if (!orb->cmd.pfch)
-		return -EOPNOTSUPP;
+	if (!orb->cmd.pfch && __ratelimit(&ratelimit_state))
+		dev_warn(mdev, "Prefetching channel program even though prefetch not specified in ORB");
 
 	INIT_LIST_HEAD(&cp->ccwchain_list);
 	memcpy(&cp->orb, orb, sizeof(*orb));