diff --git a/concrete/numpy/compilation/circuit.py b/concrete/numpy/compilation/circuit.py
index 685ecfc26..83f48df3e 100644
--- a/concrete/numpy/compilation/circuit.py
+++ b/concrete/numpy/compilation/circuit.py
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 Declaration of `Circuit` class.
 """
 
+from copy import deepcopy
 from typing import Any, Optional, Tuple, Union, cast
 
 import numpy as np
@@ -9,6 +10,7 @@ from concrete.compiler import PublicArguments, PublicResult
 
 from ..dtypes import Integer
 from ..internal.utils import assert_that
+from ..mlir import GraphConverter
 from ..representation import Graph
 from .client import Client
 from .configuration import Configuration
@@ -35,24 +37,26 @@ class Circuit:
         self.mlir = mlir
 
         if self.configuration.virtual:
-            assert_that(self.configuration.enable_unsafe_features)
             return
 
+        self._initialize_client_and_server()
+
+    def _initialize_client_and_server(self):
         input_signs = []
-        for i in range(len(graph.input_nodes)):  # pylint: disable=consider-using-enumerate
-            input_value = graph.input_nodes[i].output
+        for i in range(len(self.graph.input_nodes)):  # pylint: disable=consider-using-enumerate
+            input_value = self.graph.input_nodes[i].output
             assert_that(isinstance(input_value.dtype, Integer))
             input_dtype = cast(Integer, input_value.dtype)
             input_signs.append(input_dtype.is_signed)
 
         output_signs = []
-        for i in range(len(graph.output_nodes)):  # pylint: disable=consider-using-enumerate
-            output_value = graph.output_nodes[i].output
+        for i in range(len(self.graph.output_nodes)):  # pylint: disable=consider-using-enumerate
+            output_value = self.graph.output_nodes[i].output
             assert_that(isinstance(output_value.dtype, Integer))
             output_dtype = cast(Integer, output_value.dtype)
             output_signs.append(output_dtype.is_signed)
 
-        self.server = Server.create(mlir, input_signs, output_signs, self.configuration)
+        self.server = Server.create(self.mlir, input_signs, output_signs, self.configuration)
 
         keyset_cache_directory = None
         if self.configuration.use_insecure_key_cache:
@@ -65,6 +69,49 @@ class Circuit:
     def __str__(self):
         return self.graph.format()
 
+    def simulate(self, *args: Any) -> Any:
+        """
+        Simulate execution of the circuit.
+
+        Args:
+            *args (Any):
+                inputs to the circuit
+
+        Returns:
+            Any:
+                result of the simulation
+        """
+
+        p_error = self.p_error if not self.configuration.virtual else self.configuration.p_error
+        return self.graph(*args, p_error=p_error)
+
+    def enable_fhe(self):
+        """
+        Enable fully homomorphic encryption features.
+
+        When called on a virtual circuit, it'll enable access to the following methods:
+        - encrypt
+        - run
+        - decrypt
+        - encrypt_run_decrypt
+
+        When called on a normal circuit, it'll do nothing.
+
+        Raises:
+            RuntimeError:
+                if the circuit is not supported in fhe
+        """
+
+        if not self.configuration.virtual:
+            return
+
+        new_configuration = deepcopy(self.configuration)
+        new_configuration.virtual = False
+        self.configuration = new_configuration
+
+        self.mlir = GraphConverter.convert(self.graph)
+        self._initialize_client_and_server()
+
     def keygen(self, force: bool = False):
         """
         Generate keys required for homomorphic evaluation.
@@ -154,9 +201,6 @@ class Circuit:
                 clear result of homomorphic evaluation
         """
 
-        if self.configuration.virtual:
-            return self.graph(*args, p_error=self.configuration.p_error)
-
         return self.decrypt(self.run(self.encrypt(*args)))
 
     def cleanup(self):
diff --git a/concrete/numpy/compilation/configuration.py b/concrete/numpy/compilation/configuration.py
index 6b9fa4182..7e10017ca 100644
--- a/concrete/numpy/compilation/configuration.py
+++ b/concrete/numpy/compilation/configuration.py
@@ -47,10 +47,6 @@ class Configuration:
                 message = "Insecure key cache cannot be used without enabling unsafe features"
                 raise RuntimeError(message)
 
-            if self.virtual:
-                message = "Virtual compilation is not allowed without enabling unsafe features"
-                raise RuntimeError(message)
-
         if self.use_insecure_key_cache and self.insecure_key_cache_location is None:
             message = "Insecure key cache cannot be enabled without specifying its location"
             raise RuntimeError(message)
diff --git a/tests/compilation/test_circuit.py b/tests/compilation/test_circuit.py
index 641e406e3..c3371955e 100644
--- a/tests/compilation/test_circuit.py
+++ b/tests/compilation/test_circuit.py
@@ -321,7 +321,7 @@ def test_virtual_p_error(p_error, bit_width, sample_size, tolerance, helpers):
     circuit = function.compile(inputset, configuration=configuration, virtual=True, p_error=p_error)
 
     sample = np.random.randint(0, 2**bit_width, size=(sample_size,))
-    output = circuit.encrypt_run_decrypt(sample)
+    output = circuit.simulate(sample)
 
     errors = 0
     for i in range(sample_size):
@@ -358,3 +358,30 @@ def test_circuit_run_with_unused_arg(helpers):
     assert circuit.encrypt_run_decrypt(10, 0) == 20
     assert circuit.encrypt_run_decrypt(10, 10) == 20
     assert circuit.encrypt_run_decrypt(10, 20) == 20
+
+
+def test_circuit_virtual_then_fhe(helpers):
+    """
+    Test compiling to virtual and then fhe.
+    """
+
+    configuration = helpers.configuration()
+
+    @compiler({"x": "encrypted", "y": "encrypted"})
+    def f(x, y):
+        return x + y
+
+    inputset = [(np.random.randint(0, 2**4), np.random.randint(0, 2**5)) for _ in range(100)]
+    circuit = f.compile(inputset, configuration, virtual=True)
+
+    assert circuit.simulate(3, 5) == 8
+
+    circuit.enable_fhe()
+
+    assert circuit.simulate(3, 5) == 8
+    assert circuit.encrypt_run_decrypt(3, 5) == 8
+
+    circuit.enable_fhe()
+
+    assert circuit.simulate(3, 5) == 8
+    assert circuit.encrypt_run_decrypt(3, 5) == 8
diff --git a/tests/compilation/test_compiler.py b/tests/compilation/test_compiler.py
index f8ebbfec5..4e205755e 100644
--- a/tests/compilation/test_compiler.py
+++ b/tests/compilation/test_compiler.py
@@ -209,21 +209,6 @@ def test_compiler_bad_compile(helpers):
         "(expected a tuple of 3 values got a tuple of 2 values)"
     )
 
-    # with bad configuration
-    # ----------------------
-
-    with pytest.raises(RuntimeError) as excinfo:
-        compiler = Compiler(lambda x: x, {"x": "encrypted"})
-        compiler.compile(
-            range(10),
-            configuration.fork(enable_unsafe_features=False, use_insecure_key_cache=False),
-            virtual=True,
-        )
-
-    assert str(excinfo.value) == (
-        "Virtual compilation is not allowed without enabling unsafe features"
-    )
-
 
 def test_compiler_virtual_compile(helpers):
     """
@@ -240,7 +225,7 @@ def test_compiler_virtual_compile(helpers):
     inputset = [(100_000, 1_000_000)]
     circuit = compiler.compile(inputset, configuration=configuration, virtual=True)
 
-    assert circuit.encrypt_run_decrypt(100_000, 1_000_000) == 100_000_000_000
+    assert circuit.simulate(100_000, 1_000_000) == 100_000_000_000
 
 
 def test_compiler_compile_bad_inputset(helpers):
diff --git a/tests/conftest.py b/tests/conftest.py
index 37456403c..baaa0d65f 100644
--- a/tests/conftest.py
+++ b/tests/conftest.py
@@ -261,7 +261,11 @@ class Helpers:
 
         for i in range(retries):
             expected = sanitize(function(*sample))
-            actual = sanitize(circuit.encrypt_run_decrypt(*sample))
+            actual = sanitize(
+                circuit.simulate(*sample)
+                if circuit.configuration.virtual
+                else circuit.encrypt_run_decrypt(*sample)
+            )
 
             if all(np.array_equal(e, a) for e, a in zip(expected, actual)):
                 break