diff --git a/ui/input-legacy.c b/ui/input-legacy.c
index 7dc486b8ac..1aa2605b75 100644
--- a/ui/input-legacy.c
+++ b/ui/input-legacy.c
@@ -333,6 +333,7 @@ QEMUPutKbdEntry *qemu_add_kbd_event_handler(QEMUPutKBDEvent *func, void *opaque)
     entry->opaque = opaque;
     entry->s = qemu_input_handler_register((DeviceState *)entry,
                                            &legacy_kbd_handler);
+    qemu_input_handler_activate(entry->s);
     return entry;
 }