diff --git a/doc/openocd.texi b/doc/openocd.texi
index 11ee93e2b..bc24aedb6 100644
--- a/doc/openocd.texi
+++ b/doc/openocd.texi
@@ -9002,11 +9002,15 @@ otherwise fallback to @option{vectreset}.
 @item @option{sysresetreq} use NVIC SYSRESETREQ to reset system.
 @item @option{vectreset} use NVIC VECTRESET to reset system.
 @end itemize
-Using @option{vectreset} is a safe option for all current Cortex-M cores.
+
+Using @option{vectreset} is a safe option for Cortex-M3, M4 and M7 cores.
 This however has the disadvantage of only resetting the core, all peripherals
-are unaffected. A solution would be to use a @code{reset-init} event handler to manually reset
-the peripherals.
+are unaffected. A solution would be to use a @code{reset-init} event handler
+to manually reset the peripherals.
 @xref{targetevents,,Target Events}.
+
+Cortex-M0, M0+ and M1 do not support @option{vectreset}, use @option{sysresetreq}
+instead.
 @end deffn
 
 @subsection ARMv8-A specific commands
diff --git a/src/target/cortex_m.c b/src/target/cortex_m.c
index 07fea5137..bb8c06d0f 100644
--- a/src/target/cortex_m.c
+++ b/src/target/cortex_m.c
@@ -1041,10 +1041,18 @@ static int cortex_m_assert_reset(struct target *target)
 		retval = ERROR_OK;
 	} else {
 		/* Use a standard Cortex-M3 software reset mechanism.
-		 * We default to using VECRESET as it is supported on all current cores.
+		 * We default to using VECRESET as it is supported on all current cores
+		 * (except Cortex-M0, M0+ and M1 which support SYSRESETREQ only!)
 		 * This has the disadvantage of not resetting the peripherals, so a
 		 * reset-init event handler is needed to perform any peripheral resets.
 		 */
+		if (!cortex_m->vectreset_supported
+				&& reset_config == CORTEX_M_RESET_VECTRESET) {
+			reset_config = CORTEX_M_RESET_SYSRESETREQ;
+			LOG_WARNING("VECTRESET is not supported on this Cortex-M core, using SYSRESETREQ instead.");
+			LOG_WARNING("Set 'cortex_m reset_config sysresetreq'.");
+		}
+
 		LOG_DEBUG("Using Cortex-M %s", (reset_config == CORTEX_M_RESET_SYSRESETREQ)
 			? "SYSRESETREQ" : "VECTRESET");
 
@@ -2027,6 +2035,9 @@ int cortex_m_examine(struct target *target)
 		}
 		LOG_DEBUG("cpuid: 0x%8.8" PRIx32 "", cpuid);
 
+		/* VECTRESET is not supported on Cortex-M0, M0+ and M1 */
+		cortex_m->vectreset_supported = i > 1;
+
 		if (i == 4) {
 			target_read_u32(target, MVFR0, &mvfr0);
 			target_read_u32(target, MVFR1, &mvfr1);
@@ -2418,8 +2429,14 @@ COMMAND_HANDLER(handle_cortex_m_reset_config_command)
 	if (CMD_ARGC > 0) {
 		if (strcmp(*CMD_ARGV, "sysresetreq") == 0)
 			cortex_m->soft_reset_config = CORTEX_M_RESET_SYSRESETREQ;
-		else if (strcmp(*CMD_ARGV, "vectreset") == 0)
-			cortex_m->soft_reset_config = CORTEX_M_RESET_VECTRESET;
+
+		else if (strcmp(*CMD_ARGV, "vectreset") == 0) {
+			if (target_was_examined(target)
+					&& !cortex_m->vectreset_supported)
+				LOG_WARNING("VECTRESET is not supported on your Cortex-M core!");
+			else
+				cortex_m->soft_reset_config = CORTEX_M_RESET_VECTRESET;
+		}
 	}
 
 	switch (cortex_m->soft_reset_config) {
diff --git a/src/target/cortex_m.h b/src/target/cortex_m.h
index 2daf4cb24..22d9735e5 100644
--- a/src/target/cortex_m.h
+++ b/src/target/cortex_m.h
@@ -184,6 +184,7 @@ struct cortex_m_common {
 	struct reg_cache *dwt_cache;
 
 	enum cortex_m_soft_reset_config soft_reset_config;
+	bool vectreset_supported;
 
 	enum cortex_m_isrmasking_mode isrmasking_mode;