diff --git a/drivers/audio/ihdad/src/hda/device.rs b/drivers/audio/ihdad/src/hda/device.rs
index 2f9f0b6ced..2e4cacb571 100755
--- a/drivers/audio/ihdad/src/hda/device.rs
+++ b/drivers/audio/ihdad/src/hda/device.rs
@@ -213,6 +213,18 @@ impl IntelHDA {
         module.init()?;
 
         module.info();
+
+        if module.codecs.is_empty() {
+            // DSP/cAVS platform: STATESTS=0 (codec behind DSP), enumerate()
+            // would hang on non-existent codec 0. Fail honestly.
+            log::error!(
+                "ihdad: no codecs responded on STATESTS — this is a DSP/cAVS \
+                 platform (codec behind the DSP). Legacy HDA cannot drive it; \
+                 a SOF/cAVS driver is required (Phase 8.2)."
+            );
+            return Err(Error::new(ENODEV));
+        }
+
         module.enumerate()?;
 
         module.configure()?;