diff --git a/include/qemu/main-loop.h b/include/qemu/main-loop.h
index aac707d073..3c9a9a982d 100644
--- a/include/qemu/main-loop.h
+++ b/include/qemu/main-loop.h
@@ -157,6 +157,8 @@ typedef void WaitObjectFunc(void *opaque);
  * in the main loop's calls to WaitForMultipleObjects.  When the handle
  * is in a signaled state, QEMU will call @func.
  *
+ * If the same HANDLE is added twice, this function returns -1.
+ *
  * @handle: The Windows handle to be observed.
  * @func: A function to be called when @handle is in a signaled state.
  * @opaque: A pointer-size value that is passed to @func.
diff --git a/util/main-loop.c b/util/main-loop.c
index de38876064..10fa74c6e3 100644
--- a/util/main-loop.c
+++ b/util/main-loop.c
@@ -373,10 +373,20 @@ static WaitObjects wait_objects = {0};
 
 int qemu_add_wait_object(HANDLE handle, WaitObjectFunc *func, void *opaque)
 {
+    int i;
     WaitObjects *w = &wait_objects;
+
     if (w->num >= MAXIMUM_WAIT_OBJECTS) {
         return -1;
     }
+
+    for (i = 0; i < w->num; i++) {
+        /* check if the same handle is added twice */
+        if (w->events[i] == handle) {
+            return -1;
+        }
+    }
+
     w->events[w->num] = handle;
     w->func[w->num] = func;
     w->opaque[w->num] = opaque;