diff --git a/include/chardev/char-fe.h b/include/chardev/char-fe.h
index bd82093218..2cbb262f66 100644
--- a/include/chardev/char-fe.h
+++ b/include/chardev/char-fe.h
@@ -30,12 +30,14 @@ bool qemu_chr_fe_init(CharBackend *b, Chardev *s, Error **errp);
 
 /**
  * @qemu_chr_fe_deinit:
- *
+ * @b: a CharBackend
+ * @del: if true, delete the chardev backend
+*
  * Dissociate the CharBackend from the Chardev.
  *
  * Safe to call without associated Chardev.
  */
-void qemu_chr_fe_deinit(CharBackend *b);
+void qemu_chr_fe_deinit(CharBackend *b, bool del);
 
 /**
  * @qemu_chr_fe_get_driver:
diff --git a/backends/rng-egd.c b/backends/rng-egd.c
index ad3e1e5edf..e7ce2cac80 100644
--- a/backends/rng-egd.c
+++ b/backends/rng-egd.c
@@ -145,7 +145,7 @@ static void rng_egd_finalize(Object *obj)
 {
     RngEgd *s = RNG_EGD(obj);
 
-    qemu_chr_fe_deinit(&s->chr);
+    qemu_chr_fe_deinit(&s->chr, false);
     g_free(s->chr_name);
 }
 
diff --git a/chardev/char-fe.c b/chardev/char-fe.c
index 341221d029..3f90f0567c 100644
--- a/chardev/char-fe.c
+++ b/chardev/char-fe.c
@@ -211,7 +211,7 @@ unavailable:
     return false;
 }
 
-void qemu_chr_fe_deinit(CharBackend *b)
+void qemu_chr_fe_deinit(CharBackend *b, bool del)
 {
     assert(b);
 
@@ -224,6 +224,9 @@ void qemu_chr_fe_deinit(CharBackend *b)
             MuxChardev *d = MUX_CHARDEV(b->chr);
             d->backends[b->tag] = NULL;
         }
+        if (del) {
+            object_unparent(OBJECT(b->chr));
+        }
         b->chr = NULL;
     }
 }
diff --git a/chardev/char-mux.c b/chardev/char-mux.c
index 106c682e7f..08570b915e 100644
--- a/chardev/char-mux.c
+++ b/chardev/char-mux.c
@@ -266,7 +266,7 @@ static void char_mux_finalize(Object *obj)
             be->chr = NULL;
         }
     }
-    qemu_chr_fe_deinit(&d->chr);
+    qemu_chr_fe_deinit(&d->chr, false);
 }
 
 void mux_chr_set_handlers(Chardev *chr, GMainContext *context)
diff --git a/gdbstub.c b/gdbstub.c
index 4251d23898..ec4e4b25be 100644
--- a/gdbstub.c
+++ b/gdbstub.c
@@ -1678,9 +1678,6 @@ void gdb_exit(CPUArchState *env, int code)
 {
   GDBState *s;
   char buf[4];
-#ifndef CONFIG_USER_ONLY
-  Chardev *chr;
-#endif
 
   s = gdbserver_state;
   if (!s) {
@@ -1690,19 +1687,13 @@ void gdb_exit(CPUArchState *env, int code)
   if (gdbserver_fd < 0 || s->fd < 0) {
       return;
   }
-#else
-  chr = qemu_chr_fe_get_driver(&s->chr);
-  if (!chr) {
-      return;
-  }
 #endif
 
   snprintf(buf, sizeof(buf), "W%02x", (uint8_t)code);
   put_packet(s, buf);
 
 #ifndef CONFIG_USER_ONLY
-  qemu_chr_fe_deinit(&s->chr);
-  object_unparent(OBJECT(chr));
+  qemu_chr_fe_deinit(&s->chr, true);
 #endif
 }
 
@@ -2002,9 +1993,7 @@ int gdbserver_start(const char *device)
                                    NULL, &error_abort);
         monitor_init(mon_chr, 0);
     } else {
-        if (qemu_chr_fe_get_driver(&s->chr)) {
-            object_unparent(OBJECT(qemu_chr_fe_get_driver(&s->chr)));
-        }
+        qemu_chr_fe_deinit(&s->chr, true);
         mon_chr = s->mon_chr;
         memset(s, 0, sizeof(GDBState));
         s->mon_chr = mon_chr;
diff --git a/hw/char/serial.c b/hw/char/serial.c
index 23e5fe9d18..e1f12507bf 100644
--- a/hw/char/serial.c
+++ b/hw/char/serial.c
@@ -905,7 +905,7 @@ void serial_realize_core(SerialState *s, Error **errp)
 
 void serial_exit_core(SerialState *s)
 {
-    qemu_chr_fe_deinit(&s->chr);
+    qemu_chr_fe_deinit(&s->chr, false);
 
     timer_del(s->modem_status_poll);
     timer_free(s->modem_status_poll);
diff --git a/hw/char/xen_console.c b/hw/char/xen_console.c
index cb849c2e3e..f9af8cadf4 100644
--- a/hw/char/xen_console.c
+++ b/hw/char/xen_console.c
@@ -261,7 +261,7 @@ static void con_disconnect(struct XenDevice *xendev)
 {
     struct XenConsole *con = container_of(xendev, struct XenConsole, xendev);
 
-    qemu_chr_fe_deinit(&con->chr);
+    qemu_chr_fe_deinit(&con->chr, false);
     xen_pv_unbind_evtchn(&con->xendev);
 
     if (con->sring) {
diff --git a/hw/core/qdev-properties-system.c b/hw/core/qdev-properties-system.c
index a549d39030..3bef41914d 100644
--- a/hw/core/qdev-properties-system.c
+++ b/hw/core/qdev-properties-system.c
@@ -225,7 +225,7 @@ static void release_chr(Object *obj, const char *name, void *opaque)
     Property *prop = opaque;
     CharBackend *be = qdev_get_prop_ptr(dev, prop);
 
-    qemu_chr_fe_deinit(be);
+    qemu_chr_fe_deinit(be, false);
 }
 
 PropertyInfo qdev_prop_chr = {
diff --git a/hw/usb/ccid-card-passthru.c b/hw/usb/ccid-card-passthru.c
index fed3683a50..ac1725eeae 100644
--- a/hw/usb/ccid-card-passthru.c
+++ b/hw/usb/ccid-card-passthru.c
@@ -264,10 +264,7 @@ static void ccid_card_vscard_handle_message(PassthruState *card,
 
 static void ccid_card_vscard_drop_connection(PassthruState *card)
 {
-    Chardev *chr = qemu_chr_fe_get_driver(&card->cs);
-
-    qemu_chr_fe_deinit(&card->cs);
-    object_unparent(OBJECT(chr));
+    qemu_chr_fe_deinit(&card->cs, true);
     card->vscard_in_pos = card->vscard_in_hdr = 0;
 }
 
diff --git a/hw/usb/redirect.c b/hw/usb/redirect.c
index d2b3a84a03..aa22d69216 100644
--- a/hw/usb/redirect.c
+++ b/hw/usb/redirect.c
@@ -1419,10 +1419,8 @@ static void usbredir_cleanup_device_queues(USBRedirDevice *dev)
 static void usbredir_unrealize(USBDevice *udev, Error **errp)
 {
     USBRedirDevice *dev = USB_REDIRECT(udev);
-    Chardev *chr = qemu_chr_fe_get_driver(&dev->cs);
 
-    qemu_chr_fe_deinit(&dev->cs);
-    object_unparent(OBJECT(chr));
+    qemu_chr_fe_deinit(&dev->cs, true);
 
     /* Note must be done after qemu_chr_close, as that causes a close event */
     qemu_bh_delete(dev->chardev_close_bh);
diff --git a/monitor.c b/monitor.c
index 37f8d5645f..75e7cd26d0 100644
--- a/monitor.c
+++ b/monitor.c
@@ -578,7 +578,7 @@ static void monitor_data_init(Monitor *mon)
 
 static void monitor_data_destroy(Monitor *mon)
 {
-    qemu_chr_fe_deinit(&mon->chr);
+    qemu_chr_fe_deinit(&mon->chr, false);
     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 2fb75bcca4..6d500e1dc4 100644
--- a/net/colo-compare.c
+++ b/net/colo-compare.c
@@ -801,11 +801,9 @@ static void colo_compare_finalize(Object *obj)
 {
     CompareState *s = COLO_COMPARE(obj);
 
-    qemu_chr_fe_set_handlers(&s->chr_pri_in, NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL,
-                             s->worker_context, true);
-    qemu_chr_fe_set_handlers(&s->chr_sec_in, NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL,
-                             s->worker_context, true);
-    qemu_chr_fe_deinit(&s->chr_out);
+    qemu_chr_fe_deinit(&s->chr_pri_in, false);
+    qemu_chr_fe_deinit(&s->chr_sec_in, false);
+    qemu_chr_fe_deinit(&s->chr_out, false);
 
     g_main_loop_quit(s->compare_loop);
     qemu_thread_join(&s->thread);
diff --git a/net/filter-mirror.c b/net/filter-mirror.c
index a20330475c..52d978fce2 100644
--- a/net/filter-mirror.c
+++ b/net/filter-mirror.c
@@ -178,15 +178,15 @@ static void filter_mirror_cleanup(NetFilterState *nf)
 {
     MirrorState *s = FILTER_MIRROR(nf);
 
-    qemu_chr_fe_deinit(&s->chr_out);
+    qemu_chr_fe_deinit(&s->chr_out, false);
 }
 
 static void filter_redirector_cleanup(NetFilterState *nf)
 {
     MirrorState *s = FILTER_REDIRECTOR(nf);
 
-    qemu_chr_fe_deinit(&s->chr_in);
-    qemu_chr_fe_deinit(&s->chr_out);
+    qemu_chr_fe_deinit(&s->chr_in, false);
+    qemu_chr_fe_deinit(&s->chr_out, false);
 }
 
 static void filter_mirror_setup(NetFilterState *nf, Error **errp)
diff --git a/net/vhost-user.c b/net/vhost-user.c
index 526290d8c1..a042ec6a34 100644
--- a/net/vhost-user.c
+++ b/net/vhost-user.c
@@ -151,10 +151,7 @@ static void vhost_user_cleanup(NetClientState *nc)
         s->vhost_net = NULL;
     }
     if (nc->queue_index == 0) {
-        Chardev *chr = qemu_chr_fe_get_driver(&s->chr);
-
-        qemu_chr_fe_deinit(&s->chr);
-        object_unparent(OBJECT(chr));
+        qemu_chr_fe_deinit(&s->chr, true);
     }
 
     qemu_purge_queued_packets(nc);
diff --git a/tests/test-char.c b/tests/test-char.c
index d7ecf1056a..dfe856cb85 100644
--- a/tests/test-char.c
+++ b/tests/test-char.c
@@ -97,8 +97,7 @@ static void char_stdio_test_subprocess(void)
     ret = qemu_chr_fe_write(&be, (void *)"buf", 4);
     g_assert_cmpint(ret, ==, 4);
 
-    qemu_chr_fe_deinit(&be);
-    object_unparent(OBJECT(chr));
+    qemu_chr_fe_deinit(&be, true);
 }
 
 static void char_stdio_test(void)
@@ -146,8 +145,7 @@ static void char_ringbuf_test(void)
     g_assert_cmpstr(data, ==, "");
     g_free(data);
 
-    qemu_chr_fe_deinit(&be);
-    object_unparent(OBJECT(chr));
+    qemu_chr_fe_deinit(&be, true);
 
     /* check alias */
     opts = qemu_opts_create(qemu_find_opts("chardev"), "memory-label",
@@ -231,9 +229,8 @@ static void char_mux_test(void)
     g_assert_cmpint(strlen(data), !=, 0);
     g_free(data);
 
-    qemu_chr_fe_deinit(&chr_be1);
-    qemu_chr_fe_deinit(&chr_be2);
-    object_unparent(OBJECT(chr));
+    qemu_chr_fe_deinit(&chr_be1, false);
+    qemu_chr_fe_deinit(&chr_be2, true);
 }
 
 typedef struct SocketIdleData {
@@ -396,8 +393,7 @@ static void char_pipe_test(void)
     g_assert_cmpint(fe.read_count, ==, 8);
     g_assert_cmpstr(fe.read_buf, ==, "pipe-in");
 
-    qemu_chr_fe_deinit(&be);
-    object_unparent(OBJECT(chr));
+    qemu_chr_fe_deinit(&be, true);
 
     g_assert(g_unlink(in) == 0);
     g_assert(g_unlink(out) == 0);
@@ -511,8 +507,7 @@ static void char_file_test(void)
 
         g_assert_cmpint(fe.read_count, ==, 8);
         g_assert_cmpstr(fe.read_buf, ==, "fifo-in");
-        qemu_chr_fe_deinit(&be);
-        object_unref(OBJECT(chr));
+        qemu_chr_fe_deinit(&be, true);
         g_unlink(fifo);
         g_free(fifo);
     }
@@ -549,7 +544,7 @@ static void char_null_test(void)
     error_free_or_abort(&err);
 
     /* deinit & reinit */
-    qemu_chr_fe_deinit(&be);
+    qemu_chr_fe_deinit(&be, false);
     qemu_chr_fe_init(&be, chr, &error_abort);
 
     qemu_chr_fe_set_open(&be, true);
@@ -563,8 +558,7 @@ static void char_null_test(void)
     ret = qemu_chr_fe_write(&be, (void *)"buf", 4);
     g_assert_cmpint(ret, ==, 4);
 
-    qemu_chr_fe_deinit(&be);
-    object_unparent(OBJECT(chr));
+    qemu_chr_fe_deinit(&be, true);
 }
 
 static void char_invalid_test(void)
diff --git a/tests/vhost-user-test.c b/tests/vhost-user-test.c
index 4ca11ae28d..b3cc045765 100644
--- a/tests/vhost-user-test.c
+++ b/tests/vhost-user-test.c
@@ -488,10 +488,8 @@ static inline void test_server_connect(TestServer *server)
 static gboolean _test_server_free(TestServer *server)
 {
     int i;
-    Chardev *chr = qemu_chr_fe_get_driver(&server->chr);
 
-    qemu_chr_fe_deinit(&server->chr);
-    object_unparent(OBJECT(chr));
+    qemu_chr_fe_deinit(&server->chr, true);
 
     for (i = 0; i < server->fds_num; i++) {
         close(server->fds[i]);
