diff --git a/include/sysemu/sysemu.h b/include/sysemu/sysemu.h
index 2b42151c63..bd5b55c514 100644
--- a/include/sysemu/sysemu.h
+++ b/include/sysemu/sysemu.h
@@ -163,6 +163,9 @@ void hmp_pcie_aer_inject_error(Monitor *mon, const QDict *qdict);
 
 extern Chardev *serial_hds[MAX_SERIAL_PORTS];
 
+/* Return the Chardev for serial port i, or NULL if none */
+Chardev *serial_hd(int i);
+
 /* parallel ports */
 
 #define MAX_PARALLEL_PORTS 3
diff --git a/vl.c b/vl.c
index fce1fd12d8..6daf026da6 100644
--- a/vl.c
+++ b/vl.c
@@ -2516,6 +2516,15 @@ static int serial_parse(const char *devname)
     return 0;
 }
 
+Chardev *serial_hd(int i)
+{
+    assert(i >= 0);
+    if (i < ARRAY_SIZE(serial_hds)) {
+        return serial_hds[i];
+    }
+    return NULL;
+}
+
 static int parallel_parse(const char *devname)
 {
     static int index = 0;