diff --git a/pkg/machine/applehv/config.go b/pkg/machine/applehv/config.go
index 6c22bc8c44..5eeab76db2 100644
--- a/pkg/machine/applehv/config.go
+++ b/pkg/machine/applehv/config.go
@@ -59,7 +59,8 @@ func (v AppleHVVirtualization) IsValidVMName(name string) (bool, error) {
 	if err != nil {
 		return false, err
 	}
-	if _, err := loadMacMachineFromJSON(configDir); err != nil {
+	fqName := filepath.Join(configDir, fmt.Sprintf("%s.json", name))
+	if _, err := loadMacMachineFromJSON(fqName); err != nil {
 		return false, err
 	}
 	return true, nil