diff --git a/hw/virtio-console.c b/hw/virtio-console.c
index 57f8f89..cd6cf20 100644
--- a/hw/virtio-console.c
+++ b/hw/virtio-console.c
@@ -105,6 +105,13 @@ static void vcon_event(void *opaque, int event)
     /* we will ignore any event for the time being */
 }
 
+void virtio_console_print_early(VirtIODevice *vdev, uint8_t *buf)
+{
+    VirtIOConsole *s = to_virtio_console(vdev);
+
+    qemu_chr_write(s->chr, buf, strlen((char*)buf));
+}
+
 static void virtio_console_save(QEMUFile *f, void *opaque)
 {
     VirtIOConsole *s = opaque;
diff --git a/hw/virtio-console.h b/hw/virtio-console.h
index 84d0717..f3ccc3c 100644
--- a/hw/virtio-console.h
+++ b/hw/virtio-console.h
@@ -16,4 +16,6 @@
 /* The ID for virtio console */
 #define VIRTIO_ID_CONSOLE 3
 
+void virtio_console_print_early(VirtIODevice *vdev, uint8_t *buf);
+
 #endif