diff --git a/qemu-char.c b/qemu-char.c
index eaf6571ac..5e04a20b8 100644
--- a/qemu-char.c
+++ b/qemu-char.c
@@ -197,7 +197,7 @@ void qemu_chr_add_handlers(CharDriverState *s,
                            IOEventHandler *fd_event,
                            void *opaque)
 {
-    if (!opaque) {
+    if (!opaque && !fd_can_read && !fd_read && !fd_event) {
         /* chr driver being released. */
         ++s->avail_connections;
     }