diff --git a/drivers/tty/hvc/hvc_xen.c b/drivers/tty/hvc/hvc_xen.c
index 2944ff88fdc0b2ea9705850e080a755aca440a8d..f4abfe238f98cb6bb6a4c53607bd4adf2a447ebc 100644
--- a/drivers/tty/hvc/hvc_xen.c
+++ b/drivers/tty/hvc/hvc_xen.c
@@ -478,7 +478,6 @@ static void xencons_backend_changed(struct xenbus_device *dev,
 	case XenbusStateInitialising:
 	case XenbusStateInitialised:
 	case XenbusStateUnknown:
-	case XenbusStateClosed:
 		break;
 
 	case XenbusStateInitWait:
@@ -488,6 +487,10 @@ static void xencons_backend_changed(struct xenbus_device *dev,
 		xenbus_switch_state(dev, XenbusStateConnected);
 		break;
 
+	case XenbusStateClosed:
+		if (dev->state == XenbusStateClosed)
+			break;
+		/* Missed the backend's CLOSING state -- fallthrough */
 	case XenbusStateClosing:
 		xenbus_frontend_closed(dev);
 		break;