diff --git a/python/qemu/machine.py b/python/qemu/machine.py
index 3e9cf09fd2..4e762fcd52 100644
--- a/python/qemu/machine.py
+++ b/python/qemu/machine.py
@@ -131,7 +131,7 @@ class QEMUMachine:
         # Runstate
         self._qemu_log_path = None
         self._qemu_log_file = None
-        self._popen = None
+        self._popen: Optional['subprocess.Popen[bytes]'] = None
         self._events = []
         self._iolog = None
         self._qmp_set = True   # Enable QMP monitor by default.
@@ -244,6 +244,12 @@ class QEMUMachine:
         """Returns true if the VM is running."""
         return self._popen is not None and self._popen.poll() is None
 
+    @property
+    def _subp(self) -> 'subprocess.Popen[bytes]':
+        if self._popen is None:
+            raise QEMUMachineError('Subprocess pipe not present')
+        return self._popen
+
     def exitcode(self):
         """Returns the exit code if possible, or None."""
         if self._popen is None:
@@ -254,7 +260,7 @@ class QEMUMachine:
         """Returns the PID of the running process, or None."""
         if not self.is_running():
             return None
-        return self._popen.pid
+        return self._subp.pid
 
     def _load_io_log(self):
         if self._qemu_log_path is not None:
@@ -415,8 +421,8 @@ class QEMUMachine:
             waiting for the QEMU process to terminate.
         """
         self._early_cleanup()
-        self._popen.kill()
-        self._popen.wait(timeout=60)
+        self._subp.kill()
+        self._subp.wait(timeout=60)
 
     def _soft_shutdown(self, timeout: Optional[int],
                        has_quit: bool = False) -> None:
@@ -440,7 +446,7 @@ class QEMUMachine:
                 self._qmp.cmd('quit')
 
         # May raise subprocess.TimeoutExpired
-        self._popen.wait(timeout=timeout)
+        self._subp.wait(timeout=timeout)
 
     def _do_shutdown(self, timeout: Optional[int],
                      has_quit: bool = False) -> None: