diff --git a/hw/char/virtio-console.c b/hw/char/virtio-console.c
index 198b2a89c0..172c72d06c 100644
--- a/hw/char/virtio-console.c
+++ b/hw/char/virtio-console.c
@@ -187,6 +187,26 @@ static int chr_be_change(void *opaque)
     return 0;
 }
 
+static void virtconsole_enable_backend(VirtIOSerialPort *port, bool enable)
+{
+    VirtConsole *vcon = VIRTIO_CONSOLE(port);
+
+    if (!qemu_chr_fe_backend_connected(&vcon->chr)) {
+        return;
+    }
+
+    if (enable) {
+        VirtIOSerialPortClass *k = VIRTIO_SERIAL_PORT_GET_CLASS(port);
+
+        qemu_chr_fe_set_handlers(&vcon->chr, chr_can_read, chr_read,
+                                 k->is_console ? NULL : chr_event,
+                                 chr_be_change, vcon, NULL, false);
+    } else {
+        qemu_chr_fe_set_handlers(&vcon->chr, NULL, NULL, NULL,
+                                 NULL, NULL, NULL, false);
+    }
+}
+
 static void virtconsole_realize(DeviceState *dev, Error **errp)
 {
     VirtIOSerialPort *port = VIRTIO_SERIAL_PORT(dev);
@@ -258,6 +278,7 @@ static void virtserialport_class_init(ObjectClass *klass, void *data)
     k->unrealize = virtconsole_unrealize;
     k->have_data = flush_buf;
     k->set_guest_connected = set_guest_connected;
+    k->enable_backend = virtconsole_enable_backend;
     k->guest_writable = guest_writable;
     dc->props = virtserialport_properties;
 }
diff --git a/hw/char/virtio-serial-bus.c b/hw/char/virtio-serial-bus.c
index 17a1bb008a..9470bd7be7 100644
--- a/hw/char/virtio-serial-bus.c
+++ b/hw/char/virtio-serial-bus.c
@@ -637,6 +637,13 @@ static void set_status(VirtIODevice *vdev, uint8_t status)
     if (!(status & VIRTIO_CONFIG_S_DRIVER_OK)) {
         guest_reset(vser);
     }
+
+    QTAILQ_FOREACH(port, &vser->ports, next) {
+        VirtIOSerialPortClass *vsc = VIRTIO_SERIAL_PORT_GET_CLASS(port);
+        if (vsc->enable_backend) {
+            vsc->enable_backend(port, vdev->vm_running);
+        }
+    }
 }
 
 static void vser_reset(VirtIODevice *vdev)
diff --git a/include/hw/virtio/virtio-serial.h b/include/hw/virtio/virtio-serial.h
index b19c44727f..12657a9f39 100644
--- a/include/hw/virtio/virtio-serial.h
+++ b/include/hw/virtio/virtio-serial.h
@@ -58,6 +58,9 @@ typedef struct VirtIOSerialPortClass {
         /* Guest opened/closed device. */
     void (*set_guest_connected)(VirtIOSerialPort *port, int guest_connected);
 
+    /* Enable/disable backend for virtio serial port */
+    void (*enable_backend)(VirtIOSerialPort *port, bool enable);
+
         /* Guest is now ready to accept data (virtqueues set up). */
     void (*guest_ready)(VirtIOSerialPort *port);