diff --git a/hw/qdev.c b/hw/qdev.c
index 31eb464f23..5b8d3742ec 100644
--- a/hw/qdev.c
+++ b/hw/qdev.c
@@ -32,6 +32,8 @@
 #include "blockdev.h"
 
 static int qdev_hotplug = 0;
+static bool qdev_hot_added = false;
+static bool qdev_hot_removed = false;
 
 /* This is a nasty hack to allow passing a NULL bus to qdev_create.  */
 static BusState *main_system_bus;
@@ -93,6 +95,7 @@ static DeviceState *qdev_create_from_info(BusState *bus, DeviceInfo *info)
     if (qdev_hotplug) {
         assert(bus->allow_hotplug);
         dev->hotplugged = 1;
+        qdev_hot_added = true;
     }
     dev->instance_id_alias = -1;
     dev->state = DEV_STATE_CREATED;
@@ -294,6 +297,8 @@ int qdev_unplug(DeviceState *dev)
     }
     assert(dev->info->unplug != NULL);
 
+    qdev_hot_removed = true;
+
     return dev->info->unplug(dev);
 }
 
@@ -395,6 +400,11 @@ void qdev_machine_creation_done(void)
     qdev_hotplug = 1;
 }
 
+bool qdev_machine_modified(void)
+{
+    return qdev_hot_added || qdev_hot_removed;
+}
+
 /* Get a character (serial) device interface.  */
 CharDriverState *qdev_init_chardev(DeviceState *dev)
 {
diff --git a/hw/qdev.h b/hw/qdev.h
index 2be775f9e8..e520aaa786 100644
--- a/hw/qdev.h
+++ b/hw/qdev.h
@@ -132,6 +132,7 @@ int qdev_unplug(DeviceState *dev);
 void qdev_free(DeviceState *dev);
 int qdev_simple_unplug_cb(DeviceState *dev);
 void qdev_machine_creation_done(void);
+bool qdev_machine_modified(void);
 
 qemu_irq qdev_get_gpio_in(DeviceState *dev, int n);
 void qdev_connect_gpio_out(DeviceState *dev, int n, qemu_irq pin);