diff --git a/exec.c b/exec.c
index 8245ac040..23013fbd1 100644
--- a/exec.c
+++ b/exec.c
@@ -1542,6 +1542,17 @@ void cpu_interrupt(CPUState *env, int mask)
     old_mask = env->interrupt_request;
     env->interrupt_request |= mask;
 
+#ifndef CONFIG_USER_ONLY
+    /*
+     * If called from iothread context, wake the target cpu in
+     * case its halted.
+     */
+    if (!qemu_cpu_self(env)) {
+        qemu_cpu_kick(env);
+        return;
+    }
+#endif
+
     if (use_icount) {
         env->icount_decr.u16.high = 0xffff;
 #ifndef CONFIG_USER_ONLY
diff --git a/qemu-common.h b/qemu-common.h
index e6a555e53..c90c3e3fd 100644
--- a/qemu-common.h
+++ b/qemu-common.h
@@ -189,6 +189,10 @@ void qemu_service_io(void);
 /* Force QEMU to process pending events */
 void qemu_notify_event(void);
 
+/* Unblock cpu */
+void qemu_cpu_kick(void *env);
+int qemu_cpu_self(void *env);
+
 #ifdef CONFIG_USER_ONLY
 #define qemu_init_vcpu(env) do { } while (0)
 #else
diff --git a/vl.c b/vl.c
index 74404647d..92f301441 100644
--- a/vl.c
+++ b/vl.c
@@ -3740,6 +3740,16 @@ void qemu_init_vcpu(void *_env)
     return;
 }
 
+int qemu_cpu_self(void *env)
+{
+    return 1;
+}
+
+void qemu_cpu_kick(void *env)
+{
+    return;
+}
+
 #ifdef _WIN32
 static void host_main_loop_wait(int *timeout)
 {