diff --git a/cpu-target.c b/cpu-target.c
index f3e1ad8bcd..508013e23d 100644
--- a/cpu-target.c
+++ b/cpu-target.c
@@ -42,7 +42,6 @@
 #include "hw/core/accel-cpu.h"
 #include "trace/trace-root.h"
 #include "qemu/accel.h"
-#include "qemu/plugin.h"
 
 uintptr_t qemu_host_page_size;
 intptr_t qemu_host_page_mask;
@@ -143,11 +142,6 @@ bool cpu_exec_realizefn(CPUState *cpu, Error **errp)
     /* Wait until cpu initialization complete before exposing cpu. */
     cpu_list_add(cpu);
 
-    /* Plugin initialization must wait until cpu_index assigned. */
-    if (tcg_enabled()) {
-        qemu_plugin_vcpu_init_hook(cpu);
-    }
-
 #ifdef CONFIG_USER_ONLY
     assert(qdev_get_vmsd(DEVICE(cpu)) == NULL ||
            qdev_get_vmsd(DEVICE(cpu))->unmigratable);
@@ -176,11 +170,6 @@ void cpu_exec_unrealizefn(CPUState *cpu)
     }
 #endif
 
-    /* Call the plugin hook before clearing cpu->cpu_index in cpu_list_remove */
-    if (tcg_enabled()) {
-        qemu_plugin_vcpu_exit_hook(cpu);
-    }
-
     cpu_list_remove(cpu);
     /*
      * Now that the vCPU has been removed from the RCU list, we can call
diff --git a/hw/core/cpu-common.c b/hw/core/cpu-common.c
index d4112b8919..82dae51a55 100644
--- a/hw/core/cpu-common.c
+++ b/hw/core/cpu-common.c
@@ -214,6 +214,11 @@ static void cpu_common_realizefn(DeviceState *dev, Error **errp)
         cpu_resume(cpu);
     }
 
+    /* Plugin initialization must wait until the cpu is fully realized. */
+    if (tcg_enabled()) {
+        qemu_plugin_vcpu_init_hook(cpu);
+    }
+
     /* NOTE: latest generic point where the cpu is fully realized */
 }
 
@@ -221,6 +226,11 @@ static void cpu_common_unrealizefn(DeviceState *dev)
 {
     CPUState *cpu = CPU(dev);
 
+    /* Call the plugin hook before clearing the cpu is fully unrealized */
+    if (tcg_enabled()) {
+        qemu_plugin_vcpu_exit_hook(cpu);
+    }
+
     /* NOTE: latest generic point before the cpu is fully unrealized */
     cpu_exec_unrealizefn(cpu);
 }