diff --git a/rocket/src/main/scala/ptw.scala b/rocket/src/main/scala/ptw.scala
index fc9ab76d..a8d4ea5c 100644
--- a/rocket/src/main/scala/ptw.scala
+++ b/rocket/src/main/scala/ptw.scala
@@ -58,6 +58,8 @@ class PTW(n: Int)(implicit p: Parameters) extends CoreModule()(p) {
     val mem = new HellaCacheIO
     val dpath = new DatapathPTWIO
   }
+
+  require(usingAtomics, "PTW requires atomic memory operations")
   
   val s_ready :: s_req :: s_wait :: s_set_dirty :: s_wait_dirty :: s_done :: Nil = Enum(UInt(), 6)
   val state = Reg(init=s_ready)