diff --git a/backends/rng-egd.c b/backends/rng-egd.c
index 433f583f78fba4994d2004799708b95da3a0868b..69c04b1b26d2ea08c27e53718df1ebb58bce795d 100644
--- a/backends/rng-egd.c
+++ b/backends/rng-egd.c
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ static void rng_egd_opened(RngBackend *b, Error **errp)
 
     /* FIXME we should resubmit pending requests when the CDS reconnects. */
     qemu_chr_fe_set_handlers(&s->chr, rng_egd_chr_can_read,
-                             rng_egd_chr_read, NULL, s, NULL);
+                             rng_egd_chr_read, NULL, s, NULL, true);
 }
 
 static void rng_egd_set_chardev(Object *obj, const char *value, Error **errp)
diff --git a/gdbstub.c b/gdbstub.c
index 59444949245579067bf59b6583ba7a8ed97da810..b2e1b79ca35b2d3e8a78524e4fdcd5041a542051 100644
--- a/gdbstub.c
+++ b/gdbstub.c
@@ -1779,7 +1779,7 @@ int gdbserver_start(const char *device)
     if (chr) {
         qemu_chr_fe_init(&s->chr, chr, &error_abort);
         qemu_chr_fe_set_handlers(&s->chr, gdb_chr_can_receive, gdb_chr_receive,
-                                 gdb_chr_event, NULL, NULL);
+                                 gdb_chr_event, NULL, NULL, true);
     }
     s->state = chr ? RS_IDLE : RS_INACTIVE;
     s->mon_chr = mon_chr;
diff --git a/hw/arm/pxa2xx.c b/hw/arm/pxa2xx.c
index c9f4503481716e1058bc1f3ef8764861ddf0c279..42cdde0478fbca7c12581e58ca67d5e2f0aa35e0 100644
--- a/hw/arm/pxa2xx.c
+++ b/hw/arm/pxa2xx.c
@@ -1976,7 +1976,7 @@ static void pxa2xx_fir_realize(DeviceState *dev, Error **errp)
     PXA2xxFIrState *s = PXA2XX_FIR(dev);
 
     qemu_chr_fe_set_handlers(&s->chr, pxa2xx_fir_is_empty,
-                             pxa2xx_fir_rx, pxa2xx_fir_event, s, NULL);
+                             pxa2xx_fir_rx, pxa2xx_fir_event, s, NULL, true);
 }
 
 static bool pxa2xx_fir_vmstate_validate(void *opaque, int version_id)
diff --git a/hw/arm/strongarm.c b/hw/arm/strongarm.c
index 370198a8892a2c1c6aaff504c6018e9abf0f7bcd..85db1e2813ed69561244e478204bbcf2e6284186 100644
--- a/hw/arm/strongarm.c
+++ b/hw/arm/strongarm.c
@@ -1241,7 +1241,7 @@ static void strongarm_uart_init(Object *obj)
                              strongarm_uart_can_receive,
                              strongarm_uart_receive,
                              strongarm_uart_event,
-                             s, NULL);
+                             s, NULL, true);
 }
 
 static void strongarm_uart_reset(DeviceState *dev)
diff --git a/hw/char/bcm2835_aux.c b/hw/char/bcm2835_aux.c
index af329aab5077e908ba447a37630e06482232105f..4d46ad60aed22e42a924e5bd12e2d63c29a54774 100644
--- a/hw/char/bcm2835_aux.c
+++ b/hw/char/bcm2835_aux.c
@@ -279,7 +279,7 @@ static void bcm2835_aux_realize(DeviceState *dev, Error **errp)
     BCM2835AuxState *s = BCM2835_AUX(dev);
 
     qemu_chr_fe_set_handlers(&s->chr, bcm2835_aux_can_receive,
-                             bcm2835_aux_receive, NULL, s, NULL);
+                             bcm2835_aux_receive, NULL, s, NULL, true);
 }
 
 static Property bcm2835_aux_props[] = {
diff --git a/hw/char/cadence_uart.c b/hw/char/cadence_uart.c
index 291818e0e1591c121a89878ee00712be0743062a..c2b9154305de252191cc96174cbd7e57dc96e5bd 100644
--- a/hw/char/cadence_uart.c
+++ b/hw/char/cadence_uart.c
@@ -467,7 +467,7 @@ static void cadence_uart_realize(DeviceState *dev, Error **errp)
                                           fifo_trigger_update, s);
 
     qemu_chr_fe_set_handlers(&s->chr, uart_can_receive, uart_receive,
-                             uart_event, s, NULL);
+                             uart_event, s, NULL, true);
 }
 
 static void cadence_uart_init(Object *obj)
diff --git a/hw/char/debugcon.c b/hw/char/debugcon.c
index 2009c3e844b9e4d5ee74b70fdefb60339f24159b..80dce07e7f106582ad86e2535b671221bb7fb58e 100644
--- a/hw/char/debugcon.c
+++ b/hw/char/debugcon.c
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ static void debugcon_realize_core(DebugconState *s, Error **errp)
         return;
     }
 
-    qemu_chr_fe_set_handlers(&s->chr, NULL, NULL, NULL, s, NULL);
+    qemu_chr_fe_set_handlers(&s->chr, NULL, NULL, NULL, s, NULL, true);
 }
 
 static void debugcon_isa_realizefn(DeviceState *dev, Error **errp)
diff --git a/hw/char/digic-uart.c b/hw/char/digic-uart.c
index 2955e19f67e4b86fa479217d159c15d8b639754a..029f5bbf5eeba0fe666164a6e0dc4dfc3e453f1e 100644
--- a/hw/char/digic-uart.c
+++ b/hw/char/digic-uart.c
@@ -146,7 +146,7 @@ static void digic_uart_realize(DeviceState *dev, Error **errp)
     DigicUartState *s = DIGIC_UART(dev);
 
     qemu_chr_fe_set_handlers(&s->chr, uart_can_rx, uart_rx,
-                             uart_event, s, NULL);
+                             uart_event, s, NULL, true);
 }
 
 static void digic_uart_init(Object *obj)
diff --git a/hw/char/escc.c b/hw/char/escc.c
index c71b0a8e56c68ca9975de6361b53018e90c1961e..d6662dc77d4e2c0ee3a10aeafdfc6c50eb075d28 100644
--- a/hw/char/escc.c
+++ b/hw/char/escc.c
@@ -1016,7 +1016,7 @@ static void escc_realize(DeviceState *dev, Error **errp)
             s->chn[i].clock = s->frequency / 2;
             qemu_chr_fe_set_handlers(&s->chn[i].chr, serial_can_receive,
                                      serial_receive1, serial_event,
-                                     &s->chn[i], NULL);
+                                     &s->chn[i], NULL, true);
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/hw/char/etraxfs_ser.c b/hw/char/etraxfs_ser.c
index 18c374b95c7fe39c4b6e8ae66298cbf23a6955d9..54383878e03d9ed880e0379877d0ef4667da1aae 100644
--- a/hw/char/etraxfs_ser.c
+++ b/hw/char/etraxfs_ser.c
@@ -233,7 +233,7 @@ static void etraxfs_ser_realize(DeviceState *dev, Error **errp)
 
     qemu_chr_fe_set_handlers(&s->chr,
                              serial_can_receive, serial_receive,
-                             serial_event, s, NULL);
+                             serial_event, s, NULL, true);
 }
 
 static void etraxfs_ser_class_init(ObjectClass *klass, void *data)
diff --git a/hw/char/exynos4210_uart.c b/hw/char/exynos4210_uart.c
index 48216b1863e1a72a8622312cb937f62d580d2a7d..571c3240047d2dc9acf7485059319d6b63db6166 100644
--- a/hw/char/exynos4210_uart.c
+++ b/hw/char/exynos4210_uart.c
@@ -642,7 +642,7 @@ static int exynos4210_uart_init(SysBusDevice *dev)
 
     qemu_chr_fe_set_handlers(&s->chr, exynos4210_uart_can_receive,
                              exynos4210_uart_receive, exynos4210_uart_event,
-                             s, NULL);
+                             s, NULL, true);
 
     return 0;
 }
diff --git a/hw/char/grlib_apbuart.c b/hw/char/grlib_apbuart.c
index e50d65b9f667f4542d0e7aeec91233d423264604..db686e6a6fdcdc281da4f3bc05bf43ec87706170 100644
--- a/hw/char/grlib_apbuart.c
+++ b/hw/char/grlib_apbuart.c
@@ -247,7 +247,7 @@ static int grlib_apbuart_init(SysBusDevice *dev)
                              grlib_apbuart_can_receive,
                              grlib_apbuart_receive,
                              grlib_apbuart_event,
-                             uart, NULL);
+                             uart, NULL, true);
 
     sysbus_init_irq(dev, &uart->irq);
 
diff --git a/hw/char/imx_serial.c b/hw/char/imx_serial.c
index 8dbb7b26e6689a036c649e1cf59a1f4a39aae3a1..99545fc359ebde673123754e63745f8051e15d49 100644
--- a/hw/char/imx_serial.c
+++ b/hw/char/imx_serial.c
@@ -316,7 +316,7 @@ static void imx_serial_realize(DeviceState *dev, Error **errp)
     DPRINTF("char dev for uart: %p\n", qemu_chr_fe_get_driver(&s->chr));
 
     qemu_chr_fe_set_handlers(&s->chr, imx_can_receive, imx_receive,
-                             imx_event, s, NULL);
+                             imx_event, s, NULL, true);
 }
 
 static void imx_serial_init(Object *obj)
diff --git a/hw/char/ipoctal232.c b/hw/char/ipoctal232.c
index 6f150e09fb0ccdbf365b8f63feabb1fca437dc50..93929c2880566e1592d60dd79ccf7a2d3214af1c 100644
--- a/hw/char/ipoctal232.c
+++ b/hw/char/ipoctal232.c
@@ -544,7 +544,8 @@ static void ipoctal_realize(DeviceState *dev, Error **errp)
         /* Redirect IP-Octal channels to host character devices */
         if (qemu_chr_fe_get_driver(&ch->dev)) {
             qemu_chr_fe_set_handlers(&ch->dev, hostdev_can_receive,
-                                     hostdev_receive, hostdev_event, ch, NULL);
+                                     hostdev_receive, hostdev_event,
+                                     ch, NULL, true);
             DPRINTF("Redirecting channel %u to %s\n", i, ch->dev->label);
         } else {
             DPRINTF("Could not redirect channel %u, no chardev set\n", i);
diff --git a/hw/char/lm32_juart.c b/hw/char/lm32_juart.c
index febb41213f76798a7b9d307546d5bcc215f24e48..f8c1e0d076ffd5b23b35681a2021c16f20392c3c 100644
--- a/hw/char/lm32_juart.c
+++ b/hw/char/lm32_juart.c
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ static void lm32_juart_realize(DeviceState *dev, Error **errp)
     LM32JuartState *s = LM32_JUART(dev);
 
     qemu_chr_fe_set_handlers(&s->chr, juart_can_rx, juart_rx,
-                             juart_event, s, NULL);
+                             juart_event, s, NULL, true);
 }
 
 static const VMStateDescription vmstate_lm32_juart = {
diff --git a/hw/char/lm32_uart.c b/hw/char/lm32_uart.c
index 1b2746f487cedba421b556199ab6da0a0ce95f31..7f3597c4b0abc83a4063500b483bdc8d1d76f001 100644
--- a/hw/char/lm32_uart.c
+++ b/hw/char/lm32_uart.c
@@ -266,7 +266,7 @@ static void lm32_uart_realize(DeviceState *dev, Error **errp)
     LM32UartState *s = LM32_UART(dev);
 
     qemu_chr_fe_set_handlers(&s->chr, uart_can_rx, uart_rx,
-                             uart_event, s, NULL);
+                             uart_event, s, NULL, true);
 }
 
 static const VMStateDescription vmstate_lm32_uart = {
diff --git a/hw/char/mcf_uart.c b/hw/char/mcf_uart.c
index 456591ac2f229233cc04bf754ef8a73b3eeb8397..ecaa0911901d40b2c5d0346e4c11bdae4af1dab6 100644
--- a/hw/char/mcf_uart.c
+++ b/hw/char/mcf_uart.c
@@ -284,7 +284,8 @@ void *mcf_uart_init(qemu_irq irq, CharDriverState *chr)
     if (chr) {
         qemu_chr_fe_init(&s->chr, chr, &error_abort);
         qemu_chr_fe_set_handlers(&s->chr, mcf_uart_can_receive,
-                                 mcf_uart_receive, mcf_uart_event, s, NULL);
+                                 mcf_uart_receive, mcf_uart_event,
+                                 s, NULL, true);
     }
     mcf_uart_reset(s);
     return s;
diff --git a/hw/char/milkymist-uart.c b/hw/char/milkymist-uart.c
index dec0a8c8df88502b9fc9922e9b30307f34a75afc..ae8e2f35546af398940bce9a134c9c89dc37397f 100644
--- a/hw/char/milkymist-uart.c
+++ b/hw/char/milkymist-uart.c
@@ -199,7 +199,7 @@ static void milkymist_uart_realize(DeviceState *dev, Error **errp)
     MilkymistUartState *s = MILKYMIST_UART(dev);
 
     qemu_chr_fe_set_handlers(&s->chr, uart_can_rx, uart_rx,
-                             uart_event, s, NULL);
+                             uart_event, s, NULL, true);
 }
 
 static void milkymist_uart_init(Object *obj)
diff --git a/hw/char/pl011.c b/hw/char/pl011.c
index 900ee5db9f474544d640e687496aac2afdac3ea1..24ea9738b62b78f6465fc8db6e22d50cc72d3715 100644
--- a/hw/char/pl011.c
+++ b/hw/char/pl011.c
@@ -329,7 +329,7 @@ static void pl011_realize(DeviceState *dev, Error **errp)
     PL011State *s = PL011(dev);
 
     qemu_chr_fe_set_handlers(&s->chr, pl011_can_receive, pl011_receive,
-                             pl011_event, s, NULL);
+                             pl011_event, s, NULL, true);
 }
 
 static void pl011_class_init(ObjectClass *oc, void *data)
diff --git a/hw/char/sclpconsole-lm.c b/hw/char/sclpconsole-lm.c
index 7191717c7d8f76f1338c7bf7bdc9bacb5e714c44..07d6ebd112b974ad4711c23777fa0140d557531b 100644
--- a/hw/char/sclpconsole-lm.c
+++ b/hw/char/sclpconsole-lm.c
@@ -313,7 +313,7 @@ static int console_init(SCLPEvent *event)
     console_available = true;
 
     qemu_chr_fe_set_handlers(&scon->chr, chr_can_read,
-                             chr_read, NULL, scon, NULL);
+                             chr_read, NULL, scon, NULL, true);
 
     return 0;
 }
diff --git a/hw/char/sclpconsole.c b/hw/char/sclpconsole.c
index 27a60343d89fb16ef5d2252065ac236332451d62..b78f240a73df9d6aa244cc1c91d644f7df62774a 100644
--- a/hw/char/sclpconsole.c
+++ b/hw/char/sclpconsole.c
@@ -228,7 +228,7 @@ static int console_init(SCLPEvent *event)
     }
     console_available = true;
     qemu_chr_fe_set_handlers(&scon->chr, chr_can_read,
-                             chr_read, NULL, scon, NULL);
+                             chr_read, NULL, scon, NULL, true);
 
     return 0;
 }
diff --git a/hw/char/serial.c b/hw/char/serial.c
index 54f80c6e915713c67559b0e518c06dd7acde9c18..ffbacd822708ea474bcd9a29d1678c7f3ee715f5 100644
--- a/hw/char/serial.c
+++ b/hw/char/serial.c
@@ -897,7 +897,7 @@ void serial_realize_core(SerialState *s, Error **errp)
     qemu_register_reset(serial_reset, s);
 
     qemu_chr_fe_set_handlers(&s->chr, serial_can_receive1, serial_receive1,
-                             serial_event, s, NULL);
+                             serial_event, s, NULL, true);
     fifo8_create(&s->recv_fifo, UART_FIFO_LENGTH);
     fifo8_create(&s->xmit_fifo, UART_FIFO_LENGTH);
     serial_reset(s);
diff --git a/hw/char/sh_serial.c b/hw/char/sh_serial.c
index 8bb45db63457aab7053c51ec19e9e8fe9540616b..9d35564bcf583343b7096a985776be88b76059d0 100644
--- a/hw/char/sh_serial.c
+++ b/hw/char/sh_serial.c
@@ -400,7 +400,7 @@ void sh_serial_init(MemoryRegion *sysmem,
         qemu_chr_fe_init(&s->chr, chr, &error_abort);
         qemu_chr_fe_set_handlers(&s->chr, sh_serial_can_receive1,
                                  sh_serial_receive1,
-                                 sh_serial_event, s, NULL);
+                                 sh_serial_event, s, NULL, true);
     }
 
     s->eri = eri_source;
diff --git a/hw/char/spapr_vty.c b/hw/char/spapr_vty.c
index 8d39d40a4d3a6e0503c363bb419dbef6af08e25f..31822fed9a21805df4b6d2fab04d78bebec5fbe2 100644
--- a/hw/char/spapr_vty.c
+++ b/hw/char/spapr_vty.c
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ static void spapr_vty_realize(VIOsPAPRDevice *sdev, Error **errp)
     }
 
     qemu_chr_fe_set_handlers(&dev->chardev, vty_can_receive,
-                             vty_receive, NULL, dev, NULL);
+                             vty_receive, NULL, dev, NULL, true);
 }
 
 /* Forward declaration */
diff --git a/hw/char/stm32f2xx_usart.c b/hw/char/stm32f2xx_usart.c
index 8e9852b032419db78692b9634816b72258daefbb..59872e6d3bb98a4bc44171236723e1b0633a18e6 100644
--- a/hw/char/stm32f2xx_usart.c
+++ b/hw/char/stm32f2xx_usart.c
@@ -207,7 +207,7 @@ static void stm32f2xx_usart_realize(DeviceState *dev, Error **errp)
     STM32F2XXUsartState *s = STM32F2XX_USART(dev);
 
     qemu_chr_fe_set_handlers(&s->chr, stm32f2xx_usart_can_receive,
-                             stm32f2xx_usart_receive, NULL, s, NULL);
+                             stm32f2xx_usart_receive, NULL, s, NULL, true);
 }
 
 static void stm32f2xx_usart_class_init(ObjectClass *klass, void *data)
diff --git a/hw/char/virtio-console.c b/hw/char/virtio-console.c
index 378c1c1c4512aaa2b8f4971336cf9d5a72f23a8d..776205b4a95b6f14c5dc3949daf485209a7a1480 100644
--- a/hw/char/virtio-console.c
+++ b/hw/char/virtio-console.c
@@ -187,14 +187,12 @@ static void virtconsole_realize(DeviceState *dev, Error **errp)
          * trigger open/close of the device
          */
         if (k->is_console) {
-            chr->explicit_fe_open = 0;
             qemu_chr_fe_set_handlers(&vcon->chr, chr_can_read, chr_read,
-                                     NULL, vcon, NULL);
+                                     NULL, vcon, NULL, true);
             virtio_serial_open(port);
         } else {
-            chr->explicit_fe_open = 1;
             qemu_chr_fe_set_handlers(&vcon->chr, chr_can_read, chr_read,
-                                     chr_event, vcon, NULL);
+                                     chr_event, vcon, NULL, false);
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/hw/char/xen_console.c b/hw/char/xen_console.c
index 785bf8616e1cfe2b5d641f4d12f7f67a7a78c826..86cdc529a34d8b6173d087c9972ecbfc35f95641 100644
--- a/hw/char/xen_console.c
+++ b/hw/char/xen_console.c
@@ -245,7 +245,7 @@ static int con_initialise(struct XenDevice *xendev)
 
     xen_be_bind_evtchn(&con->xendev);
     qemu_chr_fe_set_handlers(&con->chr, xencons_can_receive,
-                             xencons_receive, NULL, con, NULL);
+                             xencons_receive, NULL, con, NULL, true);
 
     xen_be_printf(xendev, 1, "ring mfn %d, remote port %d, local port %d, limit %zd\n",
 		  con->ring_ref,
diff --git a/hw/char/xilinx_uartlite.c b/hw/char/xilinx_uartlite.c
index c7888f72921219cd8a445d7c1985a26a861e0a40..37d313b4295d0b6ccde88bac2705a336e06d49bf 100644
--- a/hw/char/xilinx_uartlite.c
+++ b/hw/char/xilinx_uartlite.c
@@ -212,7 +212,7 @@ static void xilinx_uartlite_realize(DeviceState *dev, Error **errp)
     XilinxUARTLite *s = XILINX_UARTLITE(dev);
 
     qemu_chr_fe_set_handlers(&s->chr, uart_can_rx, uart_rx,
-                             uart_event, s, NULL);
+                             uart_event, s, NULL, true);
 }
 
 static void xilinx_uartlite_init(Object *obj)
diff --git a/hw/ipmi/ipmi_bmc_extern.c b/hw/ipmi/ipmi_bmc_extern.c
index 5530870d1af9ff24ec0c70ed3b44fe6247a24798..4b310e5efff54c6b4fcdad287971db24b6ca7d81 100644
--- a/hw/ipmi/ipmi_bmc_extern.c
+++ b/hw/ipmi/ipmi_bmc_extern.c
@@ -448,7 +448,7 @@ static void ipmi_bmc_extern_realize(DeviceState *dev, Error **errp)
     }
 
     qemu_chr_fe_set_handlers(&ibe->chr, can_receive, receive,
-                             chr_event, ibe, NULL);
+                             chr_event, ibe, NULL, true);
 }
 
 static int ipmi_bmc_extern_post_migrate(void *opaque, int version_id)
diff --git a/hw/mips/mips_malta.c b/hw/mips/mips_malta.c
index 273ec6d79a6c3131eea4e19e4491e65aa1bf50ae..cf9bd3eb45e1665ccaeda7b1f7e56272ede956ee 100644
--- a/hw/mips/mips_malta.c
+++ b/hw/mips/mips_malta.c
@@ -572,7 +572,7 @@ static MaltaFPGAState *malta_fpga_init(MemoryRegion *address_space,
     chr = qemu_chr_new("fpga", "vc:320x200");
     qemu_chr_fe_init(&s->display, chr, NULL);
     qemu_chr_fe_set_handlers(&s->display, NULL, NULL,
-                             malta_fgpa_display_event, s, NULL);
+                             malta_fgpa_display_event, s, NULL, true);
 
     s->uart = serial_mm_init(address_space, base + 0x900, 3, uart_irq,
                              230400, uart_chr, DEVICE_NATIVE_ENDIAN);
diff --git a/hw/misc/ivshmem.c b/hw/misc/ivshmem.c
index bb70704e35a94688d225a4b1cb3ba7a1e94542d3..230e51b6e057d3c4cf6b96a226d46c8b1e49dd0a 100644
--- a/hw/misc/ivshmem.c
+++ b/hw/misc/ivshmem.c
@@ -895,7 +895,7 @@ static void ivshmem_common_realize(PCIDevice *dev, Error **errp)
         }
 
         qemu_chr_fe_set_handlers(&s->server_chr, ivshmem_can_receive,
-                                 ivshmem_read, NULL, s, NULL);
+                                 ivshmem_read, NULL, s, NULL, true);
 
         if (ivshmem_setup_interrupts(s) < 0) {
             error_setg(errp, "failed to initialize interrupts");
diff --git a/hw/usb/ccid-card-passthru.c b/hw/usb/ccid-card-passthru.c
index 369a8f108bf601b2216067ceec59ebe31eae9821..1faef0e35edd667539f965ce48609deb8f6522b7 100644
--- a/hw/usb/ccid-card-passthru.c
+++ b/hw/usb/ccid-card-passthru.c
@@ -353,7 +353,7 @@ static int passthru_initfn(CCIDCardState *base)
         qemu_chr_fe_set_handlers(&card->cs,
             ccid_card_vscard_can_read,
             ccid_card_vscard_read,
-            ccid_card_vscard_event, card, NULL);
+            ccid_card_vscard_event, card, NULL, true);
         ccid_card_vscard_send_init(card);
     } else {
         error_report("missing chardev");
diff --git a/hw/usb/dev-serial.c b/hw/usb/dev-serial.c
index a69b9a3cc499570b28b939dfd3af631c26fa4a63..ef1e1ade60264d13624f5c8041e1899e56d93f3e 100644
--- a/hw/usb/dev-serial.c
+++ b/hw/usb/dev-serial.c
@@ -503,7 +503,7 @@ static void usb_serial_realize(USBDevice *dev, Error **errp)
     }
 
     qemu_chr_fe_set_handlers(&s->cs, usb_serial_can_read, usb_serial_read,
-                             usb_serial_event, s, NULL);
+                             usb_serial_event, s, NULL, true);
     usb_serial_handle_reset(dev);
 
     if (chr->be_open && !dev->attached) {
diff --git a/hw/usb/redirect.c b/hw/usb/redirect.c
index 6f5ad2049c4367c506b5f1cf5b8fc99d931aa259..528081e581cfa75f265bf04ebcf1e2b66d4c9967 100644
--- a/hw/usb/redirect.c
+++ b/hw/usb/redirect.c
@@ -1409,7 +1409,7 @@ static void usbredir_realize(USBDevice *udev, Error **errp)
     /* Let the backend know we are ready */
     qemu_chr_fe_set_handlers(&dev->cs, usbredir_chardev_can_read,
                              usbredir_chardev_read, usbredir_chardev_event,
-                             dev, NULL);
+                             dev, NULL, true);
 
     qemu_add_vm_change_state_handler(usbredir_vm_state_change, dev);
 }
diff --git a/include/sysemu/char.h b/include/sysemu/char.h
index d029d544fe5131e504c9dcc4742826fae6aeca02..ae32e1ce25fb680bdfca7cf0556a89176de06106 100644
--- a/include/sysemu/char.h
+++ b/include/sysemu/char.h
@@ -109,7 +109,6 @@ struct CharDriverState {
     int logfd;
     int be_open;
     int fe_open;
-    int explicit_fe_open;
     int explicit_be_open;
     int avail_connections;
     int is_mux;
@@ -449,6 +448,8 @@ void qemu_chr_fe_deinit(CharBackend *b);
  * @fd_event: event callback
  * @opaque: an opaque pointer for the callbacks
  * @context: a main loop context or NULL for the default
+ * @set_open: whether to call qemu_chr_fe_set_open() implicitely when
+ * any of the handler is non-NULL
  *
  * Set the front end char handlers. The front end takes the focus if
  * any of the handler is non-NULL.
@@ -460,7 +461,8 @@ void qemu_chr_fe_set_handlers(CharBackend *b,
                               IOReadHandler *fd_read,
                               IOEventHandler *fd_event,
                               void *opaque,
-                              GMainContext *context);
+                              GMainContext *context,
+                              bool set_open);
 
 /**
  * @qemu_chr_fe_take_focus:
diff --git a/monitor.c b/monitor.c
index 5c349c5bf5cb35cb904b77959dadd0aeb803e006..b73a999b22444cc832ce20182fabc73815e12cac 100644
--- a/monitor.c
+++ b/monitor.c
@@ -3988,12 +3988,12 @@ void monitor_init(CharDriverState *chr, int flags)
 
     if (monitor_is_qmp(mon)) {
         qemu_chr_fe_set_handlers(&mon->chr, monitor_can_read, monitor_qmp_read,
-                                 monitor_qmp_event, mon, NULL);
+                                 monitor_qmp_event, mon, NULL, true);
         qemu_chr_fe_set_echo(&mon->chr, true);
         json_message_parser_init(&mon->qmp.parser, handle_qmp_command);
     } else {
         qemu_chr_fe_set_handlers(&mon->chr, monitor_can_read, monitor_read,
-                                 monitor_event, mon, NULL);
+                                 monitor_event, mon, NULL, true);
     }
 
     qemu_mutex_lock(&monitor_lock);
diff --git a/net/colo-compare.c b/net/colo-compare.c
index 308368164cdf74fc38b81427497f91b53210f344..109990fd8ec85083493c2a8c0524ab97c8dec0fd 100644
--- a/net/colo-compare.c
+++ b/net/colo-compare.c
@@ -451,7 +451,8 @@ static void compare_pri_chr_in(void *opaque, const uint8_t *buf, int size)
 
     ret = net_fill_rstate(&s->pri_rs, buf, size);
     if (ret == -1) {
-        qemu_chr_fe_set_handlers(&s->chr_pri_in, NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL);
+        qemu_chr_fe_set_handlers(&s->chr_pri_in, NULL, NULL, NULL,
+                                 NULL, NULL, true);
         error_report("colo-compare primary_in error");
     }
 }
@@ -467,7 +468,8 @@ static void compare_sec_chr_in(void *opaque, const uint8_t *buf, int size)
 
     ret = net_fill_rstate(&s->sec_rs, buf, size);
     if (ret == -1) {
-        qemu_chr_fe_set_handlers(&s->chr_sec_in, NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL);
+        qemu_chr_fe_set_handlers(&s->chr_sec_in, NULL, NULL, NULL,
+                                 NULL, NULL, true);
         error_report("colo-compare secondary_in error");
     }
 }
@@ -481,9 +483,9 @@ static void *colo_compare_thread(void *opaque)
     worker_context = g_main_context_new();
 
     qemu_chr_fe_set_handlers(&s->chr_pri_in, compare_chr_can_read,
-                             compare_pri_chr_in, NULL, s, worker_context);
+                             compare_pri_chr_in, NULL, s, worker_context, true);
     qemu_chr_fe_set_handlers(&s->chr_sec_in, compare_chr_can_read,
-                             compare_sec_chr_in, NULL, s, worker_context);
+                             compare_sec_chr_in, NULL, s, worker_context, true);
 
     compare_loop = g_main_loop_new(worker_context, FALSE);
 
diff --git a/net/filter-mirror.c b/net/filter-mirror.c
index 1864c818d5fc7a6b5bf783520f4ea94049682864..b7d645617c9759aa03cf1a177db27d6f73d6be7e 100644
--- a/net/filter-mirror.c
+++ b/net/filter-mirror.c
@@ -110,7 +110,8 @@ static void redirector_chr_read(void *opaque, const uint8_t *buf, int size)
     ret = net_fill_rstate(&s->rs, buf, size);
 
     if (ret == -1) {
-        qemu_chr_fe_set_handlers(&s->chr_in, NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL);
+        qemu_chr_fe_set_handlers(&s->chr_in, NULL, NULL, NULL,
+                                 NULL, NULL, true);
     }
 }
 
@@ -121,7 +122,8 @@ static void redirector_chr_event(void *opaque, int event)
 
     switch (event) {
     case CHR_EVENT_CLOSED:
-        qemu_chr_fe_set_handlers(&s->chr_in, NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL);
+        qemu_chr_fe_set_handlers(&s->chr_in, NULL, NULL, NULL,
+                                 NULL, NULL, true);
         break;
     default:
         break;
@@ -248,7 +250,7 @@ static void filter_redirector_setup(NetFilterState *nf, Error **errp)
 
         qemu_chr_fe_set_handlers(&s->chr_in, redirector_chr_can_read,
                                  redirector_chr_read, redirector_chr_event,
-                                 nf, NULL);
+                                 nf, NULL, true);
     }
 
     if (s->outdev) {
diff --git a/net/slirp.c b/net/slirp.c
index 0e675354a40a4c664fd6deb4ff27b3ff34edbb1c..64dd3255aefbd3466ff9e6c0a9be495929c0f9dd 100644
--- a/net/slirp.c
+++ b/net/slirp.c
@@ -775,7 +775,7 @@ static int slirp_guestfwd(SlirpState *s, const char *config_str,
         fwd->slirp = s->slirp;
 
         qemu_chr_fe_set_handlers(&fwd->hd, guestfwd_can_read, guestfwd_read,
-                                 NULL, fwd, NULL);
+                                 NULL, fwd, NULL, true);
     }
     return 0;
 
diff --git a/net/vhost-user.c b/net/vhost-user.c
index 140a4e0bde1e7b15651d1babb3b81ec8414498c1..7aff77ee4a8c73a161f3739e4ab9364b4217bdc9 100644
--- a/net/vhost-user.c
+++ b/net/vhost-user.c
@@ -266,7 +266,7 @@ static int net_vhost_user_init(NetClientState *peer, const char *device,
             return -1;
         }
         qemu_chr_fe_set_handlers(&s->chr, NULL, NULL,
-                                 net_vhost_user_event, nc0->name, NULL);
+                                 net_vhost_user_event, nc0->name, NULL, true);
     } while (!s->started);
 
     assert(s->vhost_net);
diff --git a/qemu-char.c b/qemu-char.c
index af060ceb64886717b372c174437677c21a4c1f64..a1517a4e4c8f825d0d4a31b8b41294d3e26ed91a 100644
--- a/qemu-char.c
+++ b/qemu-char.c
@@ -832,7 +832,7 @@ static void mux_chr_set_handlers(CharDriverState *chr, GMainContext *context)
                              mux_chr_read,
                              mux_chr_event,
                              chr,
-                             context);
+                             context, true);
 }
 
 static void mux_set_focus(MuxDriver *d, int focus)
@@ -931,7 +931,7 @@ void qemu_chr_fe_deinit(CharBackend *b)
     assert(b);
 
     if (b->chr) {
-        qemu_chr_fe_set_handlers(b, NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL);
+        qemu_chr_fe_set_handlers(b, NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, true);
         b->chr->avail_connections++;
         b->chr->be = NULL;
         if (b->chr->is_mux) {
@@ -947,7 +947,8 @@ void qemu_chr_fe_set_handlers(CharBackend *b,
                               IOReadHandler *fd_read,
                               IOEventHandler *fd_event,
                               void *opaque,
-                              GMainContext *context)
+                              GMainContext *context,
+                              bool set_open)
 {
     CharDriverState *s;
     int fe_open;
@@ -971,7 +972,7 @@ void qemu_chr_fe_set_handlers(CharBackend *b,
         s->chr_update_read_handler(s, context);
     }
 
-    if (!s->explicit_fe_open) {
+    if (set_open) {
         qemu_chr_fe_set_open(b, fe_open);
     }
 
diff --git a/qtest.c b/qtest.c
index 1a6c8b15aae24297a50c2ac9e382c702b7a9a470..46b99aed5291c827bde5ea3857d7d3cfb7cd55e4 100644
--- a/qtest.c
+++ b/qtest.c
@@ -688,7 +688,7 @@ void qtest_init(const char *qtest_chrdev, const char *qtest_log, Error **errp)
 
     qemu_chr_fe_init(&qtest_chr, chr, errp);
     qemu_chr_fe_set_handlers(&qtest_chr, qtest_can_read, qtest_read,
-                             qtest_event, &qtest_chr, NULL);
+                             qtest_event, &qtest_chr, NULL, true);
     qemu_chr_fe_set_echo(&qtest_chr, true);
 
     inbuf = g_string_new("");
diff --git a/tests/test-char.c b/tests/test-char.c
index 13c55b846c369e0a6c01cdce0eca1fbb73ba486d..241685afbb9d4dac474db122e64cbab5e2b8bae4 100644
--- a/tests/test-char.c
+++ b/tests/test-char.c
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@ static void char_mux_test(void)
                              fe_read,
                              fe_event,
                              &h1,
-                             NULL);
+                             NULL, true);
 
     qemu_chr_fe_init(&chr_be2, chr, &error_abort);
     qemu_chr_fe_set_handlers(&chr_be2,
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ static void char_mux_test(void)
                              fe_read,
                              fe_event,
                              &h2,
-                             NULL);
+                             NULL, true);
     qemu_chr_fe_take_focus(&chr_be2);
 
     base = qemu_chr_find("mux-label-base");
@@ -159,7 +159,7 @@ static void char_mux_test(void)
     h1.read_count = 0;
 
     /* remove first handler */
-    qemu_chr_fe_set_handlers(&chr_be1, NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL);
+    qemu_chr_fe_set_handlers(&chr_be1, NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, true);
     qemu_chr_be_write(base, (void *)"hello", 6);
     g_assert_cmpint(h1.read_count, ==, 0);
     g_assert_cmpint(h2.read_count, ==, 0);
@@ -216,7 +216,7 @@ static void char_null_test(void)
                              fe_can_read,
                              fe_read,
                              fe_event,
-                             NULL, NULL);
+                             NULL, NULL, true);
 
     ret = qemu_chr_fe_write(&be, (void *)"buf", 4);
     g_assert_cmpint(ret, ==, 4);
diff --git a/tests/vhost-user-test.c b/tests/vhost-user-test.c
index 24c232315268f0d3895f1dff3afb8d13e4a651bc..a7f06291cb11b63fdf9eafb3639be382218bdc5a 100644
--- a/tests/vhost-user-test.c
+++ b/tests/vhost-user-test.c
@@ -464,7 +464,7 @@ static void test_server_create_chr(TestServer *server, const gchar *opt)
 
     qemu_chr_fe_init(&server->chr, chr, &error_abort);
     qemu_chr_fe_set_handlers(&server->chr, chr_can_read, chr_read,
-                             chr_event, server, NULL);
+                             chr_event, server, NULL, true);
 }
 
 static void test_server_listen(TestServer *server)