diff --git a/chardev/char-fe.c b/chardev/char-fe.c
index 7054863208..de5ba3c119 100644
--- a/chardev/char-fe.c
+++ b/chardev/char-fe.c
@@ -179,9 +179,16 @@ void qemu_chr_fe_printf(CharBackend *be, const char *fmt, ...)
 
 Chardev *qemu_chr_fe_get_driver(CharBackend *be)
 {
+    /* this is unsafe for the users that support chardev hotswap */
+    assert(be->chr_be_change == NULL);
     return be->chr;
 }
 
+bool qemu_chr_fe_backend_connected(CharBackend *be)
+{
+    return !!be->chr;
+}
+
 bool qemu_chr_fe_init(CharBackend *b, Chardev *s, Error **errp)
 {
     int tag = 0;
diff --git a/include/chardev/char-fe.h b/include/chardev/char-fe.h
index 9f38060c7e..588abed606 100644
--- a/include/chardev/char-fe.h
+++ b/include/chardev/char-fe.h
@@ -46,9 +46,19 @@ void qemu_chr_fe_deinit(CharBackend *b, bool del);
  *
  * Returns the driver associated with a CharBackend or NULL if no
  * associated Chardev.
+ * Note: avoid this function as the driver should never be accessed directly,
+ *       especially by the frontends that support chardevice hotswap.
+ *       Consider qemu_chr_fe_backend_connected() to check for driver existence
  */
 Chardev *qemu_chr_fe_get_driver(CharBackend *be);
 
+/**
+ * @qemu_chr_fe_backend_connected:
+ *
+ * Returns true if there is a chardevice associated with @be.
+ */
+bool qemu_chr_fe_backend_connected(CharBackend *be);
+
 /**
  * @qemu_chr_fe_set_handlers:
  * @b: a CharBackend