diff --git a/backends/rng-egd.c b/backends/rng-egd.c
index ad84737..a20e737 100644
--- a/backends/rng-egd.c
+++ b/backends/rng-egd.c
@@ -150,7 +150,7 @@ static void rng_egd_opened(RngBackend *b, Error **errp)
     }
 
     /* FIXME we should resubmit pending requests when the CDS reconnects. */
-    qemu_chr_add_handlers(s->chr, rng_egd_chr_can_read, rng_egd_chr_read,
+    qemu_chr_add_handlers(s->chr, NULL, rng_egd_chr_can_read, rng_egd_chr_read,
                           NULL, s);
 }
 
@@ -190,7 +190,7 @@ static void rng_egd_finalize(Object *obj)
     RngEgd *s = RNG_EGD(obj);
 
     if (s->chr) {
-        qemu_chr_add_handlers(s->chr, NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL);
+        qemu_chr_add_handlers(s->chr, NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL);
     }
 
     g_free(s->chr_name);
diff --git a/gdbstub.c b/gdbstub.c
index d02ec75..6b0a2f1 100644
--- a/gdbstub.c
+++ b/gdbstub.c
@@ -3002,7 +3002,7 @@ int gdbserver_start(const char *device)
         if (!chr)
             return -1;
 
-        qemu_chr_add_handlers(chr, gdb_chr_can_receive, gdb_chr_receive,
+        qemu_chr_add_handlers(chr, NULL, gdb_chr_can_receive, gdb_chr_receive,
                               gdb_chr_event, NULL);
     }
 
diff --git a/hw/ccid-card-passthru.c b/hw/ccid-card-passthru.c
index bd6c777..2734d63 100644
--- a/hw/ccid-card-passthru.c
+++ b/hw/ccid-card-passthru.c
@@ -283,6 +283,7 @@ static int passthru_initfn(CCIDCardState *base)
     if (card->cs) {
         DPRINTF(card, D_INFO, "initing chardev\n");
         qemu_chr_add_handlers(card->cs,
+            NULL,
             ccid_card_vscard_can_read,
             ccid_card_vscard_read,
             ccid_card_vscard_event, card);
diff --git a/hw/debugcon.c b/hw/debugcon.c
index 14ab326..f27ee36 100644
--- a/hw/debugcon.c
+++ b/hw/debugcon.c
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ static void debugcon_init_core(DebugconState *s)
         exit(1);
     }
 
-    qemu_chr_add_handlers(s->chr, NULL, NULL, NULL, s);
+    qemu_chr_add_handlers(s->chr, NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, s);
 }
 
 static int debugcon_isa_initfn(ISADevice *dev)
diff --git a/hw/ivshmem.c b/hw/ivshmem.c
index f6dbb21..d46ef7c 100644
--- a/hw/ivshmem.c
+++ b/hw/ivshmem.c
@@ -294,10 +294,10 @@ static CharDriverState* create_eventfd_chr_device(void * opaque, EventNotifier *
         s->eventfd_table[vector].pdev = &s->dev;
         s->eventfd_table[vector].vector = vector;
 
-        qemu_chr_add_handlers(chr, ivshmem_can_receive, fake_irqfd,
+        qemu_chr_add_handlers(chr, NULL, ivshmem_can_receive, fake_irqfd,
                       ivshmem_event, &s->eventfd_table[vector]);
     } else {
-        qemu_chr_add_handlers(chr, ivshmem_can_receive, ivshmem_receive,
+        qemu_chr_add_handlers(chr, NULL, ivshmem_can_receive, ivshmem_receive,
                       ivshmem_event, s);
     }
 
@@ -722,8 +722,8 @@ static int pci_ivshmem_init(PCIDevice *dev)
 
         s->eventfd_chr = g_malloc0(s->vectors * sizeof(CharDriverState *));
 
-        qemu_chr_add_handlers(s->server_chr, ivshmem_can_receive, ivshmem_read,
-                     ivshmem_event, s);
+        qemu_chr_add_handlers(s->server_chr, NULL, ivshmem_can_receive,
+                              ivshmem_read, ivshmem_event, s);
     } else {
         /* just map the file immediately, we're not using a server */
         int fd;
diff --git a/hw/qdev-properties.c b/hw/qdev-properties.c
index 81d901c..6035128 100644
--- a/hw/qdev-properties.c
+++ b/hw/qdev-properties.c
@@ -550,7 +550,7 @@ static void release_chr(Object *obj, const char *name, void *opaque)
     CharDriverState **ptr = qdev_get_prop_ptr(dev, prop);
 
     if (*ptr) {
-        qemu_chr_add_handlers(*ptr, NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL);
+        qemu_chr_add_handlers(*ptr, NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL);
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/hw/serial.c b/hw/serial.c
index 60283ea..1cb8d0d 100644
--- a/hw/serial.c
+++ b/hw/serial.c
@@ -690,13 +690,13 @@ void serial_init_core(SerialState *s)
 
     qemu_register_reset(serial_reset, s);
 
-    qemu_chr_add_handlers(s->chr, serial_can_receive1, serial_receive1,
+    qemu_chr_add_handlers(s->chr, NULL, serial_can_receive1, serial_receive1,
                           serial_event, s);
 }
 
 void serial_exit_core(SerialState *s)
 {
-    qemu_chr_add_handlers(s->chr, NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL);
+    qemu_chr_add_handlers(s->chr, NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL);
     qemu_unregister_reset(serial_reset, s);
 }
 
diff --git a/hw/usb/dev-serial.c b/hw/usb/dev-serial.c
index 99b19df..5216b0c 100644
--- a/hw/usb/dev-serial.c
+++ b/hw/usb/dev-serial.c
@@ -414,7 +414,7 @@ static void usb_serial_handle_destroy(USBDevice *dev)
 {
     USBSerialState *s = (USBSerialState *)dev;
 
-    qemu_chr_add_handlers(s->cs, NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL);
+    qemu_chr_add_handlers(s->cs, NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL);
 }
 
 static int usb_serial_can_read(void *opaque)
@@ -491,7 +491,7 @@ static int usb_serial_initfn(USBDevice *dev)
         return -1;
     }
 
-    qemu_chr_add_handlers(s->cs, usb_serial_can_read, usb_serial_read,
+    qemu_chr_add_handlers(s->cs, NULL, usb_serial_can_read, usb_serial_read,
                           usb_serial_event, s);
     usb_serial_handle_reset(dev);
 
diff --git a/hw/usb/redirect.c b/hw/usb/redirect.c
index 0c95e6b..cf467eb 100644
--- a/hw/usb/redirect.c
+++ b/hw/usb/redirect.c
@@ -1082,7 +1082,7 @@ static int usbredir_initfn(USBDevice *udev)
 
     /* Let the backend know we are ready */
     qemu_chr_fe_open(dev->cs);
-    qemu_chr_add_handlers(dev->cs, usbredir_chardev_can_read,
+    qemu_chr_add_handlers(dev->cs, NULL, usbredir_chardev_can_read,
                           usbredir_chardev_read, usbredir_chardev_event, dev);
 
     qemu_add_vm_change_state_handler(usbredir_vm_state_change, dev);
diff --git a/hw/virtio-console.c b/hw/virtio-console.c
index cffee3d..b6022b0 100644
--- a/hw/virtio-console.c
+++ b/hw/virtio-console.c
@@ -74,6 +74,14 @@ static void guest_close(VirtIOSerialPort *port)
     qemu_chr_fe_close(vcon->chr);
 }
 
+/* Connectedness of the guest */
+static int chr_connected(void *opaque)
+{
+    VirtConsole *vcon = opaque;
+
+    return virtio_serial_guest_connected(&vcon->port);
+}
+
 /* Readiness of the guest to accept data on a port */
 static int chr_can_read(void *opaque)
 {
@@ -117,8 +125,8 @@ static int virtconsole_initfn(VirtIOSerialPort *port)
     }
 
     if (vcon->chr) {
-        qemu_chr_add_handlers(vcon->chr, chr_can_read, chr_read, chr_event,
-                              vcon);
+        qemu_chr_add_handlers(vcon->chr, chr_connected, chr_can_read, chr_read,
+                              chr_event, vcon);
     }
 
     return 0;
diff --git a/main-loop.h b/main-loop.h
index 326c742..84f5750 100644
--- a/main-loop.h
+++ b/main-loop.h
@@ -165,6 +165,7 @@ void qemu_del_wait_object(HANDLE handle, WaitObjectFunc *func, void *opaque);
 
 typedef void IOReadHandler(void *opaque, const uint8_t *buf, int size);
 typedef int IOCanReadHandler(void *opaque);
+typedef int IOConnectedHandler(void *opaque);
 
 /**
  * qemu_set_fd_handler2: Register a file descriptor with the main loop
diff --git a/monitor.c b/monitor.c
index c0e32d6..5a74a4e 100644
--- a/monitor.c
+++ b/monitor.c
@@ -4707,13 +4707,13 @@ void monitor_init(CharDriverState *chr, int flags)
     if (monitor_ctrl_mode(mon)) {
         mon->mc = g_malloc0(sizeof(MonitorControl));
         /* Control mode requires special handlers */
-        qemu_chr_add_handlers(chr, monitor_can_read, monitor_control_read,
+        qemu_chr_add_handlers(chr, NULL, monitor_can_read, monitor_control_read,
                               monitor_control_event, mon);
         qemu_chr_fe_set_echo(chr, true);
 
         json_message_parser_init(&mon->mc->parser, handle_qmp_command);
     } else {
-        qemu_chr_add_handlers(chr, monitor_can_read, monitor_read,
+        qemu_chr_add_handlers(chr, NULL, monitor_can_read, monitor_read,
                               monitor_event, mon);
     }
 
diff --git a/net/slirp.c b/net/slirp.c
index afb52c3..c963bee 100644
--- a/net/slirp.c
+++ b/net/slirp.c
@@ -659,7 +659,7 @@ static int slirp_guestfwd(SlirpState *s, const char *config_str,
         fwd->port = port;
         fwd->slirp = s->slirp;
 
-        qemu_chr_add_handlers(fwd->hd, guestfwd_can_read, guestfwd_read,
+        qemu_chr_add_handlers(fwd->hd, NULL, guestfwd_can_read, guestfwd_read,
                               NULL, fwd);
     }
     return 0;
diff --git a/qemu-char.c b/qemu-char.c
index 242b799..ba316e1 100644
--- a/qemu-char.c
+++ b/qemu-char.c
@@ -152,6 +152,13 @@ int qemu_chr_fe_ioctl(CharDriverState *s, int cmd, void *arg)
     return s->chr_ioctl(s, cmd, arg);
 }
 
+int qemu_chr_be_connected(CharDriverState *s)
+{
+    if (!s->chr_connected)
+        return 1;
+    return s->chr_connected(s->handler_opaque);
+}
+
 int qemu_chr_be_can_write(CharDriverState *s)
 {
     if (!s->chr_can_read)
@@ -194,6 +201,7 @@ void qemu_chr_fe_printf(CharDriverState *s, const char *fmt, ...)
 }
 
 void qemu_chr_add_handlers(CharDriverState *s,
+                           IOConnectedHandler *fd_connected,
                            IOCanReadHandler *fd_can_read,
                            IOReadHandler *fd_read,
                            IOEventHandler *fd_event,
@@ -203,6 +211,7 @@ void qemu_chr_add_handlers(CharDriverState *s,
         /* chr driver being released. */
         ++s->avail_connections;
     }
+    s->chr_connected = fd_connected;
     s->chr_can_read = fd_can_read;
     s->chr_read = fd_read;
     s->chr_event = fd_event;
@@ -457,7 +466,7 @@ static void mux_chr_update_read_handler(CharDriverState *chr)
     d->chr_event[d->mux_cnt] = chr->chr_event;
     /* Fix up the real driver with mux routines */
     if (d->mux_cnt == 0) {
-        qemu_chr_add_handlers(d->drv, mux_chr_can_read, mux_chr_read,
+        qemu_chr_add_handlers(d->drv, NULL, mux_chr_can_read, mux_chr_read,
                               mux_chr_event, chr);
     }
     if (d->focus != -1) {
diff --git a/qemu-char.h b/qemu-char.h
index a121e04..6e93d55 100644
--- a/qemu-char.h
+++ b/qemu-char.h
@@ -61,6 +61,7 @@ struct CharDriverState {
     int (*get_msgfd)(struct CharDriverState *s);
     int (*chr_add_client)(struct CharDriverState *chr, int fd);
     IOEventHandler *chr_event;
+    IOConnectedHandler *chr_connected;
     IOCanReadHandler *chr_can_read;
     IOReadHandler *chr_read;
     void *handler_opaque;
@@ -202,6 +203,17 @@ int qemu_chr_fe_get_msgfd(CharDriverState *s);
 int qemu_chr_be_can_write(CharDriverState *s);
 
 /**
+ * @qemu_chr_be_connected:
+ *
+ * Determine if backend is connected.  Connected means that data will be
+ * eventually read by the backend, even if at this moment
+ * qemu_chr_be_can_write would return 0.
+ *
+ * Returns: 1 if backend is connected, 0 otherwise.
+ */
+int qemu_chr_be_connected(CharDriverState *s);
+
+/**
  * @qemu_chr_be_write:
  *
  * Write data from the back end to the front end.  Before issuing this call,
@@ -224,6 +236,7 @@ void qemu_chr_be_write(CharDriverState *s, uint8_t *buf, int len);
 void qemu_chr_be_event(CharDriverState *s, int event);
 
 void qemu_chr_add_handlers(CharDriverState *s,
+                           IOConnectedHandler *fd_connected,
                            IOCanReadHandler *fd_can_read,
                            IOReadHandler *fd_read,
                            IOEventHandler *fd_event,
diff --git a/qtest.c b/qtest.c
index fbfab4e..c5f4193 100644
--- a/qtest.c
+++ b/qtest.c
@@ -425,7 +425,7 @@ int qtest_init(void)
     configure_icount("0");
     chr = qemu_chr_new("qtest", qtest_chrdev, NULL);
 
-    qemu_chr_add_handlers(chr, qtest_can_read, qtest_read, qtest_event, chr);
+    qemu_chr_add_handlers(chr, NULL, qtest_can_read, qtest_read, qtest_event, chr);
     qemu_chr_fe_set_echo(chr, true);
 
     inbuf = g_string_new("");
