diff --git a/cpus.c b/cpus.c
index 83c078e286..0fac143355 100644
--- a/cpus.c
+++ b/cpus.c
@@ -1025,6 +1025,9 @@ static void *qemu_tcg_cpu_thread_fn(void *arg)
         }
     }
 
+    /* process any pending work */
+    exit_request = 1;
+
     while (1) {
         tcg_exec_all();
 
@@ -1115,10 +1118,11 @@ bool qemu_in_vcpu_thread(void)
 
 void qemu_mutex_lock_iothread(void)
 {
+    atomic_inc(&iothread_requesting_mutex);
     if (!tcg_enabled() || !first_cpu) {
         qemu_mutex_lock(&qemu_global_mutex);
+        atomic_dec(&iothread_requesting_mutex);
     } else {
-        atomic_inc(&iothread_requesting_mutex);
         if (qemu_mutex_trylock(&qemu_global_mutex)) {
             qemu_cpu_kick_thread(first_cpu);
             qemu_mutex_lock(&qemu_global_mutex);