diff --git a/qemu-char.c b/qemu-char.c
index 74c60e11a0..a9fc50481a 100644
--- a/qemu-char.c
+++ b/qemu-char.c
@@ -160,7 +160,9 @@ int qemu_chr_be_can_write(CharDriverState *s)
 
 void qemu_chr_be_write(CharDriverState *s, uint8_t *buf, int len)
 {
-    s->chr_read(s->handler_opaque, buf, len);
+    if (s->chr_read) {
+        s->chr_read(s->handler_opaque, buf, len);
+    }
 }
 
 int qemu_chr_fe_get_msgfd(CharDriverState *s)