diff --git a/chardev/char-socket.c b/chardev/char-socket.c
index d6de5d2305..7db20ff0a0 100644
--- a/chardev/char-socket.c
+++ b/chardev/char-socket.c
@@ -957,8 +957,15 @@ static int tcp_chr_wait_connected(Chardev *chr, Error **errp)
         if (s->is_listen) {
             tcp_chr_accept_server_sync(chr);
         } else {
-            if (tcp_chr_connect_client_sync(chr, errp) < 0) {
-                return -1;
+            Error *err = NULL;
+            if (tcp_chr_connect_client_sync(chr, &err) < 0) {
+                if (s->reconnect_time) {
+                    error_free(err);
+                    g_usleep(s->reconnect_time * 1000ULL * 1000ULL);
+                } else {
+                    error_propagate(errp, err);
+                    return -1;
+                }
             }
         }
     }