diff --git a/qemu-char.c b/qemu-char.c
index c819863f50..05df971412 100644
--- a/qemu-char.c
+++ b/qemu-char.c
@@ -109,6 +109,16 @@ static QTAILQ_HEAD(CharDriverStateHead, CharDriverState) chardevs =
 
 static void qemu_chr_event(CharDriverState *s, int event)
 {
+    /* Keep track if the char device is open */
+    switch (event) {
+        case CHR_EVENT_OPENED:
+            s->opened = 1;
+            break;
+        case CHR_EVENT_CLOSED:
+            s->opened = 0;
+            break;
+    }
+
     if (!s->chr_event)
         return;
     s->chr_event(s->handler_opaque, event);
@@ -193,6 +203,12 @@ void qemu_chr_add_handlers(CharDriverState *s,
     s->handler_opaque = opaque;
     if (s->chr_update_read_handler)
         s->chr_update_read_handler(s);
+
+    /* We're connecting to an already opened device, so let's make sure we
+       also get the open event */
+    if (s->opened) {
+        qemu_chr_generic_open(s);
+    }
 }
 
 static int null_chr_write(CharDriverState *chr, const uint8_t *buf, int len)
@@ -465,6 +481,10 @@ static CharDriverState *qemu_chr_open_mux(CharDriverState *drv)
     chr->chr_write = mux_chr_write;
     chr->chr_update_read_handler = mux_chr_update_read_handler;
     chr->chr_accept_input = mux_chr_accept_input;
+
+    /* Muxes are always open on creation */
+    qemu_chr_generic_open(chr);
+
     return chr;
 }
 
diff --git a/qemu-char.h b/qemu-char.h
index 3a9427be67..e3a07838a4 100644
--- a/qemu-char.h
+++ b/qemu-char.h
@@ -67,6 +67,7 @@ struct CharDriverState {
     QEMUBH *bh;
     char *label;
     char *filename;
+    int opened;
     QTAILQ_ENTRY(CharDriverState) next;
 };