diff --git a/hw/char/parallel.c b/hw/char/parallel.c
index 055789f791..f79dc76543 100644
--- a/hw/char/parallel.c
+++ b/hw/char/parallel.c
@@ -503,6 +503,10 @@ static const VMStateDescription vmstate_parallel_isa = {
     }
 };
 
+static int parallel_can_receive(void *opaque)
+{
+     return 1;
+}
 
 static void parallel_isa_realizefn(DeviceState *dev, Error **errp)
 {
@@ -535,6 +539,8 @@ static void parallel_isa_realizefn(DeviceState *dev, Error **errp)
     isa_init_irq(isadev, &s->irq, isa->isairq);
     qemu_register_reset(parallel_reset, s);
 
+    qemu_chr_fe_set_handlers(&s->chr, parallel_can_receive, NULL,
+                             NULL, NULL, s, NULL, true);
     if (qemu_chr_fe_ioctl(&s->chr, CHR_IOCTL_PP_READ_STATUS, &dummy) == 0) {
         s->hw_driver = 1;
         s->status = dummy;