diff --git a/hw/mips_malta.c b/hw/mips_malta.c
index 5bdb45b747..eedbadae0c 100644
--- a/hw/mips_malta.c
+++ b/hw/mips_malta.c
@@ -92,8 +92,8 @@ static void malta_fpga_update_display(void *opaque)
     }
     leds_text[8] = '\0';
 
-    qemu_chr_printf(s->display, "\e[H\n\n|\e[32m%-8.8s\e[00m|\r\n", leds_text);
-    qemu_chr_printf(s->display, "\n\n\n\n|\e[31m%-8.8s\e[00m|", s->display_text);
+    qemu_chr_fe_printf(s->display, "\e[H\n\n|\e[32m%-8.8s\e[00m|\r\n", leds_text);
+    qemu_chr_fe_printf(s->display, "\n\n\n\n|\e[31m%-8.8s\e[00m|", s->display_text);
 }
 
 /*
@@ -417,15 +417,15 @@ static void malta_fpga_reset(void *opaque)
 
 static void malta_fpga_led_init(CharDriverState *chr)
 {
-    qemu_chr_printf(chr, "\e[HMalta LEDBAR\r\n");
-    qemu_chr_printf(chr, "+--------+\r\n");
-    qemu_chr_printf(chr, "+        +\r\n");
-    qemu_chr_printf(chr, "+--------+\r\n");
-    qemu_chr_printf(chr, "\n");
-    qemu_chr_printf(chr, "Malta ASCII\r\n");
-    qemu_chr_printf(chr, "+--------+\r\n");
-    qemu_chr_printf(chr, "+        +\r\n");
-    qemu_chr_printf(chr, "+--------+\r\n");
+    qemu_chr_fe_printf(chr, "\e[HMalta LEDBAR\r\n");
+    qemu_chr_fe_printf(chr, "+--------+\r\n");
+    qemu_chr_fe_printf(chr, "+        +\r\n");
+    qemu_chr_fe_printf(chr, "+--------+\r\n");
+    qemu_chr_fe_printf(chr, "\n");
+    qemu_chr_fe_printf(chr, "Malta ASCII\r\n");
+    qemu_chr_fe_printf(chr, "+--------+\r\n");
+    qemu_chr_fe_printf(chr, "+        +\r\n");
+    qemu_chr_fe_printf(chr, "+--------+\r\n");
 }
 
 static MaltaFPGAState *malta_fpga_init(target_phys_addr_t base, qemu_irq uart_irq, CharDriverState *uart_chr)
diff --git a/qemu-char.c b/qemu-char.c
index bab43d8401..5a539b049c 100644
--- a/qemu-char.c
+++ b/qemu-char.c
@@ -179,7 +179,7 @@ void qemu_chr_accept_input(CharDriverState *s)
         s->chr_accept_input(s);
 }
 
-void qemu_chr_printf(CharDriverState *s, const char *fmt, ...)
+void qemu_chr_fe_printf(CharDriverState *s, const char *fmt, ...)
 {
     char buf[READ_BUF_LEN];
     va_list ap;
diff --git a/qemu-char.h b/qemu-char.h
index a4865fce85..72c457b0d2 100644
--- a/qemu-char.h
+++ b/qemu-char.h
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ void qemu_chr_set_echo(struct CharDriverState *chr, bool echo);
 void qemu_chr_guest_open(struct CharDriverState *chr);
 void qemu_chr_guest_close(struct CharDriverState *chr);
 void qemu_chr_close(CharDriverState *chr);
-void qemu_chr_printf(CharDriverState *s, const char *fmt, ...)
+void qemu_chr_fe_printf(CharDriverState *s, const char *fmt, ...)
     GCC_FMT_ATTR(2, 3);
 int qemu_chr_fe_write(CharDriverState *s, const uint8_t *buf, int len);
 void qemu_chr_send_event(CharDriverState *s, int event);