diff --git a/chardev/char-pty.c b/chardev/char-pty.c
index cbb21b76ae..6a2c1dc13a 100644
--- a/chardev/char-pty.c
+++ b/chardev/char-pty.c
@@ -181,6 +181,9 @@ static void pty_chr_state(Chardev *chr, int connected)
 
     if (!connected) {
         remove_fd_in_watch(chr);
+        if (s->connected) {
+            qemu_chr_be_event(chr, CHR_EVENT_CLOSED);
+        }
         s->connected = 0;
         /* (re-)connect poll interval for idle guests: once per second.
          * We check more frequently in case the guests sends data to
@@ -215,7 +218,6 @@ static void char_pty_finalize(Object *obj)
     pty_chr_state(chr, 0);
     object_unref(OBJECT(s->ioc));
     pty_chr_timer_cancel(s);
-    qemu_chr_be_event(chr, CHR_EVENT_CLOSED);
 }
 
 #if defined HAVE_PTY_H