diff --git a/xen-all.c b/xen-all.c
index e849a38..19c2fe1 100644
--- a/xen-all.c
+++ b/xen-all.c
@@ -64,6 +64,8 @@
     /* which vcpu we are serving */
     int send_vcpu;
 
+    struct xs_handle *xenstore;
+
     Notifier exit;
 } XenIOState;
 
@@ -450,6 +452,17 @@
     }
 }
 
+static void xenstore_record_dm_state(XenIOState *s, const char *state)
+{
+    char path[50];
+
+    snprintf(path, sizeof (path), "/local/domain/0/device-model/%u/state", xen_domid);
+    if (!xs_write(s->xenstore, XBT_NULL, path, state, strlen(state))) {
+        fprintf(stderr, "error recording dm state\n");
+        exit(1);
+    }
+}
+
 static void xen_main_loop_prepare(XenIOState *state)
 {
     int evtchn_fd = -1;
@@ -465,6 +478,9 @@
     if (evtchn_fd != -1) {
         qemu_set_fd_handler(evtchn_fd, cpu_handle_ioreq, NULL, state);
     }
+
+    /* record state running */
+    xenstore_record_dm_state(state, "running");
 }
 
 
@@ -483,6 +499,7 @@
     XenIOState *state = container_of(n, XenIOState, exit);
 
     xc_evtchn_close(state->xce_handle);
+    xs_daemon_close(state->xenstore);
 }
 
 int xen_init(void)
@@ -510,6 +527,12 @@
         return -errno;
     }
 
+    state->xenstore = xs_daemon_open();
+    if (state->xenstore == NULL) {
+        perror("xen: xenstore open");
+        return -errno;
+    }
+
     state->exit.notify = xen_exit_notifier;
     qemu_add_exit_notifier(&state->exit);