diff --git a/src/cpu/memtest/memtest.cc b/src/cpu/memtest/memtest.cc
index 186b6ba50..609a07a8e 100644
--- a/src/cpu/memtest/memtest.cc
+++ b/src/cpu/memtest/memtest.cc
@@ -137,6 +137,8 @@ MemTest::MemTest(const string &name,
     tickEvent.schedule(0);
 
     id = TESTER_ALLOCATOR++;
+    if (TESTER_ALLOCATOR > 8)
+        panic("False sharing memtester only allows up to 8 testers");
 
     accessRetry = false;
 }