diff --git a/lib/core/rancher/step.sh b/lib/core/rancher/step.sh
index bdf4482..f99c43b 100644
--- a/lib/core/rancher/step.sh
+++ b/lib/core/rancher/step.sh
@@ -49,15 +49,15 @@ function ih::setup::core.rancher::test() {
     return 1
   fi
 
-  # Use vz instead of qemu on macOS 13.3 to resolve m3 mac issues.
-  # See: https://github.com/lima-vm/lima/issues/1996
-  # Also: https://github.com/rancher-sandbox/rancher-desktop/blob/fcffd3cc071a9414dcf03c895792b5142116ffd4/pkg/rancher-desktop/main/commandServer/settingsValidator.ts#L320-L330
+  # Use vz (requires macOS >=13.3) instead of qemu on M3 macs to resolve issues.
+  # More details: https://github.com/lima-vm/lima/issues/1996
   local macos_version=$(ih::arch::get_macos_version)
-  if (( $(echo "$macos_version >= 13.3" | bc -l) )); then
-    if grep -q "<string>vz</string>" "$PLIST_DST"; then
-      ih::log::debug "The PLIST file already uses 'vz' for Virtualization."
-    else
-      ih::log::debug "The PLIST file needs to be updated to use 'vz'."
+  if ih::arch::is_m3_mac; then
+    if (( $(echo "$macos_version < 13.3" | bc -l) )); then
+      ih::log::error "macOS version 13.3 or higher is required for M3 Macs."
+      return 1
+    elif ! grep -q "<string>vz</string>" "$PLIST_DST"; then
+      ih::log::debug "The PLIST file needs to be updated to use 'vz' for M3 Macs."
       return 1
     fi
   fi
@@ -133,11 +133,14 @@ function ih::setup::core.rancher::install() {
       fi
     fi
 
-    # Use vz instead of qemu on macOS 13.3 to resolve m3 mac issues.
-    local macos_version=$(ih::arch::get_macos_version)
-    if (( $(echo "$macos_version >= 13.3" | bc -l) )); then
-      if ! grep -q "<string>vz</string>" "$PLIST_DST"; then
-        ih::log::debug "Updating PLIST to use 'vz' for Virtualization."
+    # Use vz (requires macOS >=13.3) instead of qemu on M3 macs to resolve issues.
+    # More details: https://github.com/lima-vm/lima/issues/1996
+    if ih::arch::is_m3_mac; then
+      if (( $(echo "$macos_version < 13.3" | bc -l) )); then
+        ih::log::error "macOS version 13.3 or higher is required for M3 Macs."
+        return 1 # Abort the installation for M3 Macs
+      elif ! grep -q "<string>vz</string>" "$PLIST_DST"; then
+        ih::log::debug "Updating PLIST to use 'vz' for Virtualization for M3 Macs."
         sudo sed -i '' 's/<string>qemu<\/string>/<string>vz<\/string>/g' "$PLIST_DST"
       fi
     fi
diff --git a/lib/utils/arch.sh b/lib/utils/arch.sh
index 65589bd..0c6a65c 100644
--- a/lib/utils/arch.sh
+++ b/lib/utils/arch.sh
@@ -25,3 +25,12 @@ ih::arch::mbrew() {
 ih::arch::get_macos_version() {
   sw_vers -productVersion | awk -F '.' '{ printf("%d.%d\n", $1, $2) }'
 }
+
+ih::arch::is_m3_mac() {
+  local hw_model=$(sysctl -n machdep.cpu.brand_string)
+  if [[ "$hw_model" == *"M3"* ]]; then
+    return 0  # This is an M3 Mac.
+  else
+    return 1  # This is not an M3 Mac.
+  fi
+}