diff --git a/trace-events b/trace-events
index d071b97dd7..11a17a8a40 100644
--- a/trace-events
+++ b/trace-events
@@ -511,6 +511,8 @@ g_malloc(size_t size, void *ptr) "size %zu ptr %p"
 g_realloc(void *ptr, size_t size, void *newptr) "ptr %p size %zu newptr %p"
 g_free(void *ptr) "ptr %p"
 system_wakeup_request(int reason) "reason=%d"
+qemu_system_shutdown_request(void) ""
+qemu_system_powerdown_request(void) ""
 
 # block/qcow2.c
 qcow2_writev_start_req(void *co, int64_t sector, int nb_sectors) "co %p sector %" PRIx64 " nb_sectors %d"
diff --git a/vl.c b/vl.c
index 41ddcd2678..34f87264e2 100644
--- a/vl.c
+++ b/vl.c
@@ -1921,6 +1921,7 @@ void qemu_system_killed(int signal, pid_t pid)
 
 void qemu_system_shutdown_request(void)
 {
+    trace_qemu_system_shutdown_request();
     shutdown_requested = 1;
     qemu_notify_event();
 }
@@ -1933,6 +1934,7 @@ static void qemu_system_powerdown(void)
 
 void qemu_system_powerdown_request(void)
 {
+    trace_qemu_system_powerdown_request();
     powerdown_requested = 1;
     qemu_notify_event();
 }