diff --git a/hw/qxl.c b/hw/qxl.c
index 0b9a4c71ec..a6fb7f0acb 100644
--- a/hw/qxl.c
+++ b/hw/qxl.c
@@ -656,8 +656,8 @@ static void qxl_reset_state(PCIQXLDevice *d)
     QXLRam *ram = d->ram;
     QXLRom *rom = d->rom;
 
-    assert(SPICE_RING_IS_EMPTY(&ram->cmd_ring));
-    assert(SPICE_RING_IS_EMPTY(&ram->cursor_ring));
+    assert(!d->ssd.running || SPICE_RING_IS_EMPTY(&ram->cmd_ring));
+    assert(!d->ssd.running || SPICE_RING_IS_EMPTY(&ram->cursor_ring));
     d->shadow_rom.update_id = cpu_to_le32(0);
     *rom = d->shadow_rom;
     qxl_rom_set_dirty(d);