diff --git a/python/qemu/machine.py b/python/qemu/machine.py
index 734efd8536..183d8f3d38 100644
--- a/python/qemu/machine.py
+++ b/python/qemu/machine.py
@@ -112,6 +112,7 @@ class QEMUMachine(object):
         self._sock_dir = sock_dir
         self._launched = False
         self._machine = None
+        self._console_index = 0
         self._console_set = False
         self._console_device_type = None
         self._console_address = None
@@ -241,6 +242,8 @@ class QEMUMachine(object):
                          'chardev=mon,mode=control'])
         if self._machine is not None:
             args.extend(['-machine', self._machine])
+        for i in range(self._console_index):
+            args.extend(['-serial', 'null'])
         if self._console_set:
             self._console_address = os.path.join(self._sock_dir,
                                                  self._name + "-console.sock")
@@ -527,7 +530,7 @@ class QEMUMachine(object):
         """
         self._machine = machine_type
 
-    def set_console(self, device_type=None):
+    def set_console(self, device_type=None, console_index=0):
         """
         Sets the device type for a console device
 
@@ -548,9 +551,14 @@ class QEMUMachine(object):
                             chardev:console" command line argument will
                             be used instead, resorting to the machine's
                             default device type.
+        @param console_index: the index of the console device to use.
+                              If not zero, the command line will create
+                              'index - 1' consoles and connect them to
+                              the 'null' backing character device.
         """
         self._console_set = True
         self._console_device_type = device_type
+        self._console_index = console_index
 
     @property
     def console_socket(self):