diff --git a/console.c b/console.c
index 64246b767d..553358ba24 100644
--- a/console.c
+++ b/console.c
@@ -1123,7 +1123,7 @@ static void kbd_send_chars(void *opaque)
     int len;
     uint8_t buf[16];
 
-    len = qemu_chr_can_read(s->chr);
+    len = qemu_chr_be_can_write(s->chr);
     if (len > s->out_fifo.count)
         len = s->out_fifo.count;
     if (len > 0) {
diff --git a/hw/baum.c b/hw/baum.c
index 51e0c8fc41..1c6d3e277f 100644
--- a/hw/baum.c
+++ b/hw/baum.c
@@ -223,7 +223,7 @@ static void baum_accept_input(struct CharDriverState *chr)
 
     if (!baum->out_buf_used)
         return;
-    room = qemu_chr_can_read(chr);
+    room = qemu_chr_be_can_write(chr);
     if (!room)
         return;
     if (room > baum->out_buf_used)
@@ -250,7 +250,7 @@ static void baum_write_packet(BaumDriverState *baum, const uint8_t *buf, int len
     while (len--)
         if ((*cur++ = *buf++) == ESC)
             *cur++ = ESC;
-    room = qemu_chr_can_read(baum->chr);
+    room = qemu_chr_be_can_write(baum->chr);
     len = cur - io_buf;
     if (len <= room) {
         /* Fits */
diff --git a/qemu-char.c b/qemu-char.c
index 0786ab4e58..d3bfcafa49 100644
--- a/qemu-char.c
+++ b/qemu-char.c
@@ -151,7 +151,7 @@ int qemu_chr_ioctl(CharDriverState *s, int cmd, void *arg)
     return s->chr_ioctl(s, cmd, arg);
 }
 
-int qemu_chr_can_read(CharDriverState *s)
+int qemu_chr_be_can_write(CharDriverState *s)
 {
     if (!s->chr_can_read)
         return 0;
@@ -565,7 +565,7 @@ static int fd_chr_read_poll(void *opaque)
     CharDriverState *chr = opaque;
     FDCharDriver *s = chr->opaque;
 
-    s->max_size = qemu_chr_can_read(chr);
+    s->max_size = qemu_chr_be_can_write(chr);
     return s->max_size;
 }
 
@@ -699,7 +699,7 @@ static int stdio_read_poll(void *opaque)
     CharDriverState *chr = opaque;
 
     /* try to flush the queue if needed */
-    if (term_fifo_size != 0 && qemu_chr_can_read(chr) > 0) {
+    if (term_fifo_size != 0 && qemu_chr_be_can_write(chr) > 0) {
         qemu_chr_be_write(chr, term_fifo, 1);
         term_fifo_size = 0;
     }
@@ -724,7 +724,7 @@ static void stdio_read(void *opaque)
         return;
     }
     if (size > 0) {
-        if (qemu_chr_can_read(chr) > 0) {
+        if (qemu_chr_be_can_write(chr) > 0) {
             qemu_chr_be_write(chr, buf, 1);
         } else if (term_fifo_size == 0) {
             term_fifo[term_fifo_size++] = buf[0];
@@ -890,7 +890,7 @@ static int pty_chr_read_poll(void *opaque)
     CharDriverState *chr = opaque;
     PtyCharDriver *s = chr->opaque;
 
-    s->read_bytes = qemu_chr_can_read(chr);
+    s->read_bytes = qemu_chr_be_can_write(chr);
     return s->read_bytes;
 }
 
@@ -1602,7 +1602,7 @@ static int win_chr_read_poll(CharDriverState *chr)
 {
     WinCharState *s = chr->opaque;
 
-    s->max_size = qemu_chr_can_read(chr);
+    s->max_size = qemu_chr_be_can_write(chr);
     return s->max_size;
 }
 
@@ -1840,7 +1840,7 @@ static int udp_chr_read_poll(void *opaque)
     CharDriverState *chr = opaque;
     NetCharDriver *s = chr->opaque;
 
-    s->max_size = qemu_chr_can_read(chr);
+    s->max_size = qemu_chr_be_can_write(chr);
 
     /* If there were any stray characters in the queue process them
      * first
@@ -1848,7 +1848,7 @@ static int udp_chr_read_poll(void *opaque)
     while (s->max_size > 0 && s->bufptr < s->bufcnt) {
         qemu_chr_be_write(chr, &s->buf[s->bufptr], 1);
         s->bufptr++;
-        s->max_size = qemu_chr_can_read(chr);
+        s->max_size = qemu_chr_be_can_write(chr);
     }
     return s->max_size;
 }
@@ -1869,7 +1869,7 @@ static void udp_chr_read(void *opaque)
     while (s->max_size > 0 && s->bufptr < s->bufcnt) {
         qemu_chr_be_write(chr, &s->buf[s->bufptr], 1);
         s->bufptr++;
-        s->max_size = qemu_chr_can_read(chr);
+        s->max_size = qemu_chr_be_can_write(chr);
     }
 }
 
@@ -1963,7 +1963,7 @@ static int tcp_chr_read_poll(void *opaque)
     TCPCharDriver *s = chr->opaque;
     if (!s->connected)
         return 0;
-    s->max_size = qemu_chr_can_read(chr);
+    s->max_size = qemu_chr_be_can_write(chr);
     return s->max_size;
 }
 
diff --git a/qemu-char.h b/qemu-char.h
index b16e566b10..3500a57d26 100644
--- a/qemu-char.h
+++ b/qemu-char.h
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ void qemu_chr_add_handlers(CharDriverState *s,
                            void *opaque);
 int qemu_chr_ioctl(CharDriverState *s, int cmd, void *arg);
 void qemu_chr_generic_open(CharDriverState *s);
-int qemu_chr_can_read(CharDriverState *s);
+int qemu_chr_be_can_write(CharDriverState *s);
 void qemu_chr_be_write(CharDriverState *s, uint8_t *buf, int len);
 int qemu_chr_get_msgfd(CharDriverState *s);
 void qemu_chr_accept_input(CharDriverState *s);
diff --git a/spice-qemu-char.c b/spice-qemu-char.c
index f3e7702b55..a9323f39fb 100644
--- a/spice-qemu-char.c
+++ b/spice-qemu-char.c
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ static int vmc_write(SpiceCharDeviceInstance *sin, const uint8_t *buf, int len)
 
     while (len > 0) {
         last_out = MIN(len, VMC_MAX_HOST_WRITE);
-        if (qemu_chr_can_read(scd->chr) < last_out) {
+        if (qemu_chr_be_can_write(scd->chr) < last_out) {
             break;
         }
         qemu_chr_be_write(scd->chr, p, last_out);