diff --git a/chardev/char-stdio.c b/chardev/char-stdio.c
index 82eaebc1db..403da308c9 100644
--- a/chardev/char-stdio.c
+++ b/chardev/char-stdio.c
@@ -112,9 +112,7 @@ static void qemu_chr_open_stdio(Chardev *chr,
 
     qemu_chr_open_fd(chr, 0, 1);
 
-    if (opts->has_signal) {
-        stdio_allow_signal = opts->signal;
-    }
+    stdio_allow_signal = !opts->has_signal || opts->signal;
     qemu_chr_set_echo_stdio(chr, false);
 }
 #endif
diff --git a/qapi/char.json b/qapi/char.json
index b4d66ec90b..43486d1daa 100644
--- a/qapi/char.json
+++ b/qapi/char.json
@@ -321,8 +321,7 @@
 # Configuration info for stdio chardevs.
 #
 # @signal: Allow signals (such as SIGINT triggered by ^C)
-#          be delivered to qemu.  Default: true in -nographic mode,
-#          false otherwise.
+#          be delivered to qemu.  Default: true.
 #
 # Since: 1.5
 ##