diff --git a/hw/virtio-serial-bus.c b/hw/virtio-serial-bus.c
index 7f9d28f..b89daa6 100644
--- a/hw/virtio-serial-bus.c
+++ b/hw/virtio-serial-bus.c
@@ -139,6 +139,9 @@ static void flush_queued_data(VirtIOSerialPort *port, bool discard)
 {
     assert(port);
 
+    if (!virtio_queue_ready(port->ovq)) {
+        return;
+    }
     do_flush_queued_data(port, port->ovq, &port->vser->vdev, discard);
 }