diff --git a/backends/rng-egd.c b/backends/rng-egd.c
index d9e50bb..433f583 100644
--- a/backends/rng-egd.c
+++ b/backends/rng-egd.c
@@ -100,10 +100,6 @@ static void rng_egd_opened(RngBackend *b, Error **errp)
                   "Device '%s' not found", s->chr_name);
         return;
     }
-    if (qemu_chr_fe_claim(chr) != 0) {
-        error_setg(errp, QERR_DEVICE_IN_USE, s->chr_name);
-        return;
-    }
     if (!qemu_chr_fe_init(&s->chr, chr, errp)) {
         return;
     }
@@ -149,11 +145,7 @@ static void rng_egd_finalize(Object *obj)
 {
     RngEgd *s = RNG_EGD(obj);
 
-    if (s->chr.chr) {
-        qemu_chr_fe_set_handlers(&s->chr, NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL);
-        qemu_chr_fe_release(s->chr.chr);
-    }
-
+    qemu_chr_fe_deinit(&s->chr);
     g_free(s->chr_name);
 }
 
diff --git a/gdbstub.c b/gdbstub.c
index 33b056e..5944494 100644
--- a/gdbstub.c
+++ b/gdbstub.c
@@ -1494,6 +1494,7 @@ void gdb_exit(CPUArchState *env, int code)
   put_packet(s, buf);
 
 #ifndef CONFIG_USER_ONLY
+  qemu_chr_fe_deinit(&s->chr);
   qemu_chr_delete(chr);
 #endif
 }
@@ -1752,8 +1753,6 @@ int gdbserver_start(const char *device)
         chr = qemu_chr_new_noreplay("gdb", device);
         if (!chr)
             return -1;
-
-        qemu_chr_fe_claim_no_fail(chr);
     }
 
     s = gdbserver_state;
diff --git a/hw/arm/pxa2xx.c b/hw/arm/pxa2xx.c
index 798c05b..cd98379 100644
--- a/hw/arm/pxa2xx.c
+++ b/hw/arm/pxa2xx.c
@@ -1976,7 +1976,6 @@ static void pxa2xx_fir_realize(DeviceState *dev, Error **errp)
     PXA2xxFIrState *s = PXA2XX_FIR(dev);
 
     if (s->chr.chr) {
-        qemu_chr_fe_claim_no_fail(s->chr.chr);
         qemu_chr_fe_set_handlers(&s->chr, pxa2xx_fir_is_empty,
                                  pxa2xx_fir_rx, pxa2xx_fir_event, s, NULL);
     }
diff --git a/hw/char/mcf_uart.c b/hw/char/mcf_uart.c
index cc3db13..b505343 100644
--- a/hw/char/mcf_uart.c
+++ b/hw/char/mcf_uart.c
@@ -285,7 +285,6 @@ void *mcf_uart_init(qemu_irq irq, CharDriverState *chr)
     s->irq = irq;
     if (chr) {
         qemu_chr_fe_init(&s->chr, chr, &error_abort);
-        qemu_chr_fe_claim_no_fail(chr);
         qemu_chr_fe_set_handlers(&s->chr, mcf_uart_can_receive,
                                  mcf_uart_receive, mcf_uart_event, s, NULL);
     }
diff --git a/hw/char/serial.c b/hw/char/serial.c
index 257be46..afa6248 100644
--- a/hw/char/serial.c
+++ b/hw/char/serial.c
@@ -904,7 +904,7 @@ void serial_realize_core(SerialState *s, Error **errp)
 
 void serial_exit_core(SerialState *s)
 {
-    qemu_chr_fe_set_handlers(&s->chr, NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL);
+    qemu_chr_fe_deinit(&s->chr);
     qemu_unregister_reset(serial_reset, s);
 }
 
diff --git a/hw/char/sh_serial.c b/hw/char/sh_serial.c
index 8d82986..8bb45db 100644
--- a/hw/char/sh_serial.c
+++ b/hw/char/sh_serial.c
@@ -397,7 +397,6 @@ void sh_serial_init(MemoryRegion *sysmem,
     memory_region_add_subregion(sysmem, A7ADDR(base), &s->iomem_a7);
 
     if (chr) {
-        qemu_chr_fe_claim_no_fail(chr);
         qemu_chr_fe_init(&s->chr, chr, &error_abort);
         qemu_chr_fe_set_handlers(&s->chr, sh_serial_can_receive1,
                                  sh_serial_receive1,
diff --git a/hw/char/xen_console.c b/hw/char/xen_console.c
index 5e5aca1..f664366 100644
--- a/hw/char/xen_console.c
+++ b/hw/char/xen_console.c
@@ -245,15 +245,8 @@ static int con_initialise(struct XenDevice *xendev)
 
     xen_be_bind_evtchn(&con->xendev);
     if (con->chr.chr) {
-        if (qemu_chr_fe_claim(con->chr.chr) == 0) {
-            qemu_chr_fe_set_handlers(&con->chr, xencons_can_receive,
-                                     xencons_receive, NULL, con, NULL);
-        } else {
-            xen_be_printf(xendev, 0,
-                          "xen_console_init error chardev %s already used\n",
-                          con->chr.chr->label);
-            con->chr.chr = NULL;
-        }
+        qemu_chr_fe_set_handlers(&con->chr, xencons_can_receive,
+                                 xencons_receive, NULL, con, NULL);
     }
 
     xen_be_printf(xendev, 1, "ring mfn %d, remote port %d, local port %d, limit %zd\n",
@@ -268,10 +261,7 @@ static void con_disconnect(struct XenDevice *xendev)
 {
     struct XenConsole *con = container_of(xendev, struct XenConsole, xendev);
 
-    if (con->chr.chr) {
-        qemu_chr_fe_set_handlers(&con->chr, NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL);
-        qemu_chr_fe_release(con->chr.chr);
-    }
+    qemu_chr_fe_deinit(&con->chr);
     xen_be_unbind_evtchn(&con->xendev);
 
     if (con->sring) {
diff --git a/hw/core/qdev-properties-system.c b/hw/core/qdev-properties-system.c
index 6d45d32..c35f0f5 100644
--- a/hw/core/qdev-properties-system.c
+++ b/hw/core/qdev-properties-system.c
@@ -206,13 +206,12 @@ static void set_chr(Object *obj, Visitor *v, const char *name, void *opaque,
                    object_get_typename(obj), prop->name, str);
         return;
     }
-    if (qemu_chr_fe_claim(s) != 0) {
-        error_setg(errp, "Property '%s.%s' can't take value '%s', it's in use",
-                  object_get_typename(obj), prop->name, str);
+
+    if (!qemu_chr_fe_init(be, s, errp)) {
+        error_prepend(errp, "Property '%s.%s' can't take value '%s': ",
+                      object_get_typename(obj), prop->name, str);
         return;
     }
-
-    qemu_chr_fe_init(be, s, errp);
 }
 
 static void release_chr(Object *obj, const char *name, void *opaque)
@@ -221,10 +220,7 @@ static void release_chr(Object *obj, const char *name, void *opaque)
     Property *prop = opaque;
     CharBackend *be = qdev_get_prop_ptr(dev, prop);
 
-    if (be->chr) {
-        qemu_chr_fe_set_handlers(be, NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL);
-        qemu_chr_fe_release(be->chr);
-    }
+    qemu_chr_fe_deinit(be);
 }
 
 PropertyInfo qdev_prop_chr = {
diff --git a/hw/usb/ccid-card-passthru.c b/hw/usb/ccid-card-passthru.c
index a8c8684..369a8f1 100644
--- a/hw/usb/ccid-card-passthru.c
+++ b/hw/usb/ccid-card-passthru.c
@@ -266,6 +266,7 @@ static void ccid_card_vscard_drop_connection(PassthruState *card)
 {
     CharDriverState *chr = qemu_chr_fe_get_driver(&card->cs);
 
+    qemu_chr_fe_deinit(&card->cs);
     qemu_chr_delete(chr);
     card->vscard_in_pos = card->vscard_in_hdr = 0;
 }
diff --git a/hw/usb/redirect.c b/hw/usb/redirect.c
index 0fb2e9a..6f5ad20 100644
--- a/hw/usb/redirect.c
+++ b/hw/usb/redirect.c
@@ -1430,9 +1430,9 @@ static void usbredir_handle_destroy(USBDevice *udev)
     USBRedirDevice *dev = USB_REDIRECT(udev);
     CharDriverState *chr = qemu_chr_fe_get_driver(&dev->cs);
 
+    qemu_chr_fe_deinit(&dev->cs);
     qemu_chr_delete(chr);
 
-    dev->cs.chr = NULL;
     /* Note must be done after qemu_chr_close, as that causes a close event */
     qemu_bh_delete(dev->chardev_close_bh);
     qemu_bh_delete(dev->device_reject_bh);
diff --git a/monitor.c b/monitor.c
index 1c6f28f..5c349c5 100644
--- a/monitor.c
+++ b/monitor.c
@@ -582,9 +582,7 @@ static void monitor_data_init(Monitor *mon)
 
 static void monitor_data_destroy(Monitor *mon)
 {
-    if (mon->chr.chr) {
-        qemu_chr_fe_set_handlers(&mon->chr, NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL);
-    }
+    qemu_chr_fe_deinit(&mon->chr);
     if (monitor_is_qmp(mon)) {
         json_message_parser_destroy(&mon->qmp.parser);
     }
diff --git a/net/colo-compare.c b/net/colo-compare.c
index 63d92cb..3083681 100644
--- a/net/colo-compare.c
+++ b/net/colo-compare.c
@@ -590,12 +590,6 @@ static int find_and_check_chardev(CharDriverState **chr,
         return 1;
     }
 
-    if (qemu_chr_fe_claim(*chr) < 0) {
-        error_setg(errp, "chardev \"%s\" cannot be claimed",
-                   chr_name);
-        return 1;
-    }
-
     return 0;
 }
 
@@ -707,17 +701,9 @@ static void colo_compare_finalize(Object *obj)
 {
     CompareState *s = COLO_COMPARE(obj);
 
-    if (s->chr_pri_in.chr) {
-        qemu_chr_fe_set_handlers(&s->chr_pri_in, NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL);
-        qemu_chr_fe_release(s->chr_pri_in.chr);
-    }
-    if (s->chr_sec_in.chr) {
-        qemu_chr_fe_set_handlers(&s->chr_sec_in, NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL);
-        qemu_chr_fe_release(s->chr_sec_in.chr);
-    }
-    if (s->chr_out.chr) {
-        qemu_chr_fe_release(s->chr_out.chr);
-    }
+    qemu_chr_fe_deinit(&s->chr_pri_in);
+    qemu_chr_fe_deinit(&s->chr_sec_in);
+    qemu_chr_fe_deinit(&s->chr_out);
 
     g_queue_free(&s->conn_list);
 
diff --git a/net/filter-mirror.c b/net/filter-mirror.c
index 12d79cd..1864c81 100644
--- a/net/filter-mirror.c
+++ b/net/filter-mirror.c
@@ -175,22 +175,15 @@ static void filter_mirror_cleanup(NetFilterState *nf)
 {
     MirrorState *s = FILTER_MIRROR(nf);
 
-    if (s->chr_out.chr) {
-        qemu_chr_fe_release(s->chr_out.chr);
-    }
+    qemu_chr_fe_deinit(&s->chr_out);
 }
 
 static void filter_redirector_cleanup(NetFilterState *nf)
 {
     MirrorState *s = FILTER_REDIRECTOR(nf);
 
-    if (s->chr_in.chr) {
-        qemu_chr_fe_set_handlers(&s->chr_in, NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL);
-        qemu_chr_fe_release(s->chr_in.chr);
-    }
-    if (s->chr_out.chr) {
-        qemu_chr_fe_release(s->chr_out.chr);
-    }
+    qemu_chr_fe_deinit(&s->chr_in);
+    qemu_chr_fe_deinit(&s->chr_out);
 }
 
 static void filter_mirror_setup(NetFilterState *nf, Error **errp)
@@ -211,11 +204,6 @@ static void filter_mirror_setup(NetFilterState *nf, Error **errp)
         return;
     }
 
-    if (qemu_chr_fe_claim(chr) != 0) {
-        error_setg(errp, QERR_DEVICE_IN_USE, s->outdev);
-        return;
-    }
-
     qemu_chr_fe_init(&s->chr_out, chr, errp);
 }
 
@@ -254,7 +242,6 @@ static void filter_redirector_setup(NetFilterState *nf, Error **errp)
             return;
         }
 
-        qemu_chr_fe_claim_no_fail(chr);
         if (!qemu_chr_fe_init(&s->chr_in, chr, errp)) {
             return;
         }
@@ -271,7 +258,6 @@ static void filter_redirector_setup(NetFilterState *nf, Error **errp)
                       "OUT Device '%s' not found", s->outdev);
             return;
         }
-        qemu_chr_fe_claim_no_fail(chr);
         if (!qemu_chr_fe_init(&s->chr_out, chr, errp)) {
             return;
         }
diff --git a/net/slirp.c b/net/slirp.c
index f9f6fc6..0e67535 100644
--- a/net/slirp.c
+++ b/net/slirp.c
@@ -774,7 +774,6 @@ static int slirp_guestfwd(SlirpState *s, const char *config_str,
         fwd->port = port;
         fwd->slirp = s->slirp;
 
-        qemu_chr_fe_claim_no_fail(fwd->hd.chr);
         qemu_chr_fe_set_handlers(&fwd->hd, guestfwd_can_read, guestfwd_read,
                                  NULL, fwd, NULL);
     }
diff --git a/net/vhost-user.c b/net/vhost-user.c
index 357b500..140a4e0 100644
--- a/net/vhost-user.c
+++ b/net/vhost-user.c
@@ -150,10 +150,8 @@ static void vhost_user_cleanup(NetClientState *nc)
         g_free(s->vhost_net);
         s->vhost_net = NULL;
     }
-    if (nc->queue_index == 0 && s->chr.chr) {
-        qemu_chr_fe_set_handlers(&s->chr, NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL);
-        qemu_chr_fe_release(s->chr.chr);
-        s->chr.chr = NULL;
+    if (nc->queue_index == 0) {
+        qemu_chr_fe_deinit(&s->chr);
     }
 
     qemu_purge_queued_packets(nc);
@@ -297,8 +295,6 @@ static CharDriverState *net_vhost_claim_chardev(
         return NULL;
     }
 
-    qemu_chr_fe_claim_no_fail(chr);
-
     return chr;
 }
 
diff --git a/qemu-char.c b/qemu-char.c
index 1ed69d0..40c5b50 100644
--- a/qemu-char.c
+++ b/qemu-char.c
@@ -776,6 +776,7 @@ static void mux_chr_close(struct CharDriverState *chr)
 {
     MuxDriver *d = chr->opaque;
 
+    qemu_chr_fe_deinit(&d->chr);
     g_free(d);
 }
 
@@ -876,6 +877,12 @@ bool qemu_chr_fe_init(CharBackend *b, CharDriverState *s, Error **errp)
     assert(b);
     assert(s);
 
+    if (s->avail_connections < 1) {
+        error_setg(errp, QERR_DEVICE_IN_USE, s->label);
+        return false;
+    }
+    s->avail_connections--;
+
     if (s->is_mux) {
         tag = mux_chr_new_handler_tag(s, errp);
         if (tag < 0) {
@@ -889,6 +896,17 @@ bool qemu_chr_fe_init(CharBackend *b, CharDriverState *s, Error **errp)
     return true;
 }
 
+void qemu_chr_fe_deinit(CharBackend *b)
+{
+    assert(b);
+
+    if (b->chr) {
+        qemu_chr_fe_set_handlers(b, NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL);
+        b->chr->avail_connections++;
+        b->chr = NULL;
+    }
+}
+
 void qemu_chr_fe_set_handlers(CharBackend *b,
                               IOCanReadHandler *fd_can_read,
                               IOReadHandler *fd_read,
@@ -4124,7 +4142,6 @@ CharDriverState *qemu_chr_new_noreplay(const char *label, const char *filename)
         error_report_err(err);
     }
     if (chr && qemu_opt_get_bool(opts, "mux", 0)) {
-        qemu_chr_fe_claim_no_fail(chr);
         monitor_init(chr, MONITOR_USE_READLINE);
     }
     qemu_opts_del(opts);
@@ -4200,29 +4217,6 @@ guint qemu_chr_fe_add_watch(CharBackend *be, GIOCondition cond,
     return tag;
 }
 
-int qemu_chr_fe_claim(CharDriverState *s)
-{
-    if (s->avail_connections < 1) {
-        return -1;
-    }
-    s->avail_connections--;
-    return 0;
-}
-
-void qemu_chr_fe_claim_no_fail(CharDriverState *s)
-{
-    if (qemu_chr_fe_claim(s) != 0) {
-        fprintf(stderr, "%s: error chardev \"%s\" already used\n",
-                __func__, s->label);
-        exit(1);
-    }
-}
-
-void qemu_chr_fe_release(CharDriverState *s)
-{
-    s->avail_connections++;
-}
-
 void qemu_chr_fe_disconnect(CharBackend *be)
 {
     CharDriverState *chr = be->chr;
diff --git a/tests/vhost-user-test.c b/tests/vhost-user-test.c
index 2d86de1..24c2323 100644
--- a/tests/vhost-user-test.c
+++ b/tests/vhost-user-test.c
@@ -490,6 +490,7 @@ static gboolean _test_server_free(TestServer *server)
     int i;
     CharDriverState *chr = qemu_chr_fe_get_driver(&server->chr);
 
+    qemu_chr_fe_deinit(&server->chr);
     qemu_chr_delete(chr);
 
     for (i = 0; i < server->fds_num; i++) {
diff --git a/vl.c b/vl.c
index caa5f3b..43f1457 100644
--- a/vl.c
+++ b/vl.c
@@ -2417,7 +2417,6 @@ static int mon_init_func(void *opaque, QemuOpts *opts, Error **errp)
         exit(1);
     }
 
-    qemu_chr_fe_claim_no_fail(chr);
     monitor_init(chr, flags);
     return 0;
 }
diff --git a/include/sysemu/char.h b/include/sysemu/char.h
index 6737a8a..b81dbcc 100644
--- a/include/sysemu/char.h
+++ b/include/sysemu/char.h
@@ -361,35 +361,6 @@ int qemu_chr_fe_get_msgfds(CharBackend *be, int *fds, int num);
  */
 int qemu_chr_fe_set_msgfds(CharBackend *be, int *fds, int num);
 
-/**
- * @qemu_chr_fe_claim:
- *
- * Claim a backend before using it, should be called before calling
- * qemu_chr_fe_set_handlers().
- *
- * Returns: -1 if the backend is already in use by another frontend, 0 on
- *          success.
- */
-int qemu_chr_fe_claim(CharDriverState *s);
-
-/**
- * @qemu_chr_fe_claim_no_fail:
- *
- * Like qemu_chr_fe_claim, but will exit qemu with an error when the
- * backend is already in use.
- */
-void qemu_chr_fe_claim_no_fail(CharDriverState *s);
-
-/**
- * @qemu_chr_fe_claim:
- *
- * Release a backend for use by another frontend.
- *
- * Returns: -1 if the backend is already in use by another frontend, 0 on
- *          success.
- */
-void qemu_chr_fe_release(CharDriverState *s);
-
 /**
  * @qemu_chr_be_can_write:
  *
@@ -437,7 +408,8 @@ void qemu_chr_be_event(CharDriverState *s, int event);
  * @qemu_chr_fe_init:
  *
  * Initializes a front end for the given CharBackend and
- * CharDriver.
+ * CharDriver. Call qemu_chr_fe_deinit() to remove the association and
+ * release the driver.
  *
  * Returns: false on error.
  */
@@ -450,6 +422,13 @@ bool qemu_chr_fe_init(CharBackend *b, CharDriverState *s, Error **errp);
  */
 CharDriverState *qemu_chr_fe_get_driver(CharBackend *be);
 
+/**
+ * @qemu_chr_fe_deinit:
+ *
+ * Dissociate the CharBackend from the CharDriver.
+ */
+void qemu_chr_fe_deinit(CharBackend *b);
+
 /**
  * @qemu_chr_fe_set_handlers:
  * @b: a CharBackend
