diff --git a/TODO b/TODO
index dcaa954..b67cb21 100644
--- a/TODO
+++ b/TODO
@@ -13,7 +13,6 @@ Necessary:
 Nice to have:
 - ir encode/send needs to read xml file
 - cir decode irp should read IrpProtocols.xml
-- access to io_error in aya
 - cir transmit rawir -S sony15:12 -r 2 ??
 - pcmak leading gap not decoded
 - encoding toggle_bit_mask not used when popcount > 1
diff --git a/src/bin/commands/config.rs b/src/bin/commands/config.rs
index 12d35b9..3e950a7 100644
--- a/src/bin/commands/config.rs
+++ b/src/bin/commands/config.rs
@@ -156,13 +156,22 @@ pub fn config(config: &crate::Config) {
             };
 
             if !lirc.can_receive_raw() {
-                eprintln!(
-                    "error: {}: not a raw receiver, irp not supported",
-                    rcdev.name
-                );
+                eprintln!("error: {}: not a raw receiver, irp not supported", lircdev);
                 std::process::exit(1);
             }
 
+            match lirc.query_bpf() {
+                Ok(Some(_)) => (),
+                Ok(None) => {
+                    eprintln!("error: {}: no kernel BPF support, rebuild kernel with CONFIG_BPF_LIRC_MODE2", lircdev);
+                    std::process::exit(1);
+                }
+                Err(e) => {
+                    eprintln!("error: {}: {e}", lircdev);
+                    std::process::exit(1);
+                }
+            }
+
             lirc
         } else {
             eprintln!("error: {}: no lirc device, irp not supported", rcdev.name);
@@ -475,6 +484,26 @@ fn load_keymap(
                 }
             };
 
+            if !chdev.can_receive_raw() {
+                eprintln!("error: {}: not a raw receiver, irp not supported", chdev);
+                std::process::exit(1);
+            }
+
+            match chdev.query_bpf() {
+                Ok(Some(_)) => (),
+                Ok(None) => {
+                    eprintln!(
+                    "error: {}: no kernel BPF support, rebuild kernel with CONFIG_BPF_LIRC_MODE2",
+                    chdev
+                );
+                    std::process::exit(1);
+                }
+                Err(e) => {
+                    eprintln!("error: {}: {e}", chdev);
+                    std::process::exit(1);
+                }
+            }
+
             if let Err(e) = chdev.attach_bpf(&bpf) {
                 eprintln!("error: {}: attach bpf: {e}", keymap_filename.display());
                 std::process::exit(1);
@@ -546,6 +575,26 @@ fn load_lircd(
             }
         };
 
+        if !chdev.can_receive_raw() {
+            eprintln!("error: {}: not a raw receiver, irp not supported", chdev);
+            std::process::exit(1);
+        }
+
+        match chdev.query_bpf() {
+            Ok(Some(_)) => (),
+            Ok(None) => {
+                eprintln!(
+                    "error: {}: no kernel BPF support, rebuild kernel with CONFIG_BPF_LIRC_MODE2",
+                    chdev
+                );
+                std::process::exit(1);
+            }
+            Err(e) => {
+                eprintln!("error: {}: {e}", chdev);
+                std::process::exit(1);
+            }
+        }
+
         if let Err(e) = chdev.attach_bpf(&bpf) {
             eprintln!("error: {}: attach bpf: {e}", keymap_filename.display());
             std::process::exit(1);
diff --git a/src/bin/commands/list.rs b/src/bin/commands/list.rs
index 5f19166..73ac070 100644
--- a/src/bin/commands/list.rs
+++ b/src/bin/commands/list.rs
@@ -215,9 +215,12 @@ fn print_rc_dev(list: &[rcdev::Rcdev], config: &crate::List) {
 
                     if lircdev.can_receive_raw() {
                         match lircdev.query_bpf() {
-                            Ok(links) => {
+                            Ok(Some(links)) => {
                                 println!("\tBPF protocols\t\t: {}", links.iter().join(" "));
                             }
+                            Ok(None) => {
+                                println!("\tBPF protocols\t\t: No kernel support")
+                            }
                             Err(err) => {
                                 println!("\tBPF protocols\t\t: {err}")
                             }
diff --git a/src/lirc.rs b/src/lirc.rs
index 9fa255a..9217126 100644
--- a/src/lirc.rs
+++ b/src/lirc.rs
@@ -504,9 +504,17 @@ impl Lirc {
         }
     }
 
-    /// query bpf programs
-    pub fn query_bpf(&self) -> Result<Vec<String>, ProgramError> {
-        let links = LircMode2::query(self.as_fd())?;
+    /// Query bpf programs attached to lirc dev. Returns Ok(None) if there is no support
+    /// for bpf programs with the current kernel.
+    pub fn query_bpf(&self) -> Result<Option<Vec<String>>, ProgramError> {
+        let res = LircMode2::query(self.as_fd());
+
+        if res.as_ref().is_err_and(is_syscall_unsupported) {
+            return Ok(None);
+        }
+
+        let links = res?;
+
         let mut res = Vec::new();
 
         for link in links {
@@ -517,15 +525,23 @@ impl Lirc {
             }
         }
 
-        Ok(res)
+        Ok(Some(res))
     }
 
     /// Remove all attached bpf programs
     pub fn clear_bpf(&self) -> Result<(), ProgramError> {
-        let links = LircMode2::query(self.as_fd())?;
+        let res = LircMode2::query(self.as_fd());
+
+        if res.as_ref().is_err_and(is_syscall_unsupported) {
+            return Ok(());
+        }
+
+        let links = res?;
+
         for link in links {
             link.detach()?;
         }
+
         Ok(())
     }
 }
@@ -547,3 +563,22 @@ impl fmt::Display for Lirc {
         write!(f, "{}", self.path.display())
     }
 }
+
+/// If LircMode2::query() fails, is this due to the syscall not being supported,
+/// or another reason (e.g. permission denied)
+fn is_syscall_unsupported(error: &ProgramError) -> bool {
+    if let ProgramError::SyscallError(syscall_error) = &error {
+        // No support for the syscall
+        if syscall_error.call == "bpf_prog_query"
+            // kernel not built with CONFIG_BPF_LIRC_MODE2
+            && syscall_error.io_error.kind() == ErrorKind::InvalidInput
+            // kernel not built with CONFIG_BPF_SYSCALL
+            || syscall_error.io_error.kind() == ErrorKind::Unsupported
+        {
+            return true;
+        }
+    }
+
+    // another reason (permission denied, not sure what else could go wrong)
+    false
+}