diff --git a/target/loongarch/cpu.h b/target/loongarch/cpu.h
index a61c0405a2..415c69e1df 100644
--- a/target/loongarch/cpu.h
+++ b/target/loongarch/cpu.h
@@ -381,6 +381,8 @@ struct ArchCPU {
 
     /* 'compatible' string for this CPU for Linux device trees */
     const char *dtb_compatible;
+    /* used by KVM_REG_LOONGARCH_COUNTER ioctl to access guest time counters */
+    uint64_t kvm_state_counter;
 };
 
 /**
diff --git a/target/loongarch/kvm/kvm.c b/target/loongarch/kvm/kvm.c
index 29944b9ef8..85e7aeb083 100644
--- a/target/loongarch/kvm/kvm.c
+++ b/target/loongarch/kvm/kvm.c
@@ -617,8 +617,31 @@ int kvm_arch_put_registers(CPUState *cs, int level)
     return ret;
 }
 
+static void kvm_loongarch_vm_stage_change(void *opaque, bool running,
+                                          RunState state)
+{
+    int ret;
+    CPUState *cs = opaque;
+    LoongArchCPU *cpu = LOONGARCH_CPU(cs);
+
+    if (running) {
+        ret = kvm_set_one_reg(cs, KVM_REG_LOONGARCH_COUNTER,
+                              &cpu->kvm_state_counter);
+        if (ret < 0) {
+            trace_kvm_failed_put_counter(strerror(errno));
+        }
+    } else {
+        ret = kvm_get_one_reg(cs, KVM_REG_LOONGARCH_COUNTER,
+                              &cpu->kvm_state_counter);
+        if (ret < 0) {
+            trace_kvm_failed_get_counter(strerror(errno));
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 int kvm_arch_init_vcpu(CPUState *cs)
 {
+    qemu_add_vm_change_state_handler(kvm_loongarch_vm_stage_change, cs);
     return 0;
 }
 
diff --git a/target/loongarch/trace-events b/target/loongarch/trace-events
index 6827ab566a..937c3c7c0c 100644
--- a/target/loongarch/trace-events
+++ b/target/loongarch/trace-events
@@ -7,5 +7,7 @@ kvm_failed_get_fpu(const char *msg) "Failed to get fpu from KVM: %s"
 kvm_failed_put_fpu(const char *msg) "Failed to put fpu into KVM: %s"
 kvm_failed_get_mpstate(const char *msg) "Failed to get mp_state from KVM: %s"
 kvm_failed_put_mpstate(const char *msg) "Failed to put mp_state into KVM: %s"
+kvm_failed_get_counter(const char *msg) "Failed to get counter from KVM: %s"
+kvm_failed_put_counter(const char *msg) "Failed to put counter into KVM: %s"
 kvm_failed_get_cpucfg(const char *msg) "Failed to get cpucfg from KVM: %s"
 kvm_failed_put_cpucfg(const char *msg) "Failed to put cpucfg into KVM: %s"