diff --git a/hw/virtio-console.c b/hw/virtio-console.c
index 2f7c3df..7c89990 100644
--- a/hw/virtio-console.c
+++ b/hw/virtio-console.c
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@
     if (!vcon->chr) {
         return;
     }
-    qemu_chr_fe_open(vcon->chr);
+    qemu_chr_fe_set_open(vcon->chr, 1);
 }
 
 /* Callback function that's called when the guest closes the port */
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@
     if (!vcon->chr) {
         return;
     }
-    qemu_chr_fe_close(vcon->chr);
+    qemu_chr_fe_set_open(vcon->chr, 0);
 }
 
 /* Readiness of the guest to accept data on a port */
diff --git a/include/char/char.h b/include/char/char.h
index 3cd2aef..a726ddc 100644
--- a/include/char/char.h
+++ b/include/char/char.h
@@ -129,21 +129,12 @@
 void qemu_chr_fe_set_echo(struct CharDriverState *chr, bool echo);
 
 /**
- * @qemu_chr_fe_open:
+ * @qemu_chr_fe_set_open:
  *
- * Open a character backend.  This function call is an indication that the
- * front end is ready to begin doing I/O.
+ * Set character frontend open status.  This is an indication that the
+ * front end is ready (or not) to begin doing I/O.
  */
-void qemu_chr_fe_open(struct CharDriverState *chr);
-
-/**
- * @qemu_chr_fe_close:
- *
- * Close a character backend.  This function call indicates that the front end
- * no longer is able to process I/O.  To process I/O again, the front end will
- * call @qemu_chr_fe_open.
- */
-void qemu_chr_fe_close(struct CharDriverState *chr);
+void qemu_chr_fe_set_open(struct CharDriverState *chr, int fe_open);
 
 /**
  * @qemu_chr_fe_printf:
diff --git a/qemu-char.c b/qemu-char.c
index 947541a..29a2462 100644
--- a/qemu-char.c
+++ b/qemu-char.c
@@ -238,11 +238,7 @@
         s->chr_update_read_handler(s);
 
     if (!s->explicit_fe_open) {
-        if (fe_open) {
-            qemu_chr_fe_open(s);
-        } else {
-            qemu_chr_fe_close(s);
-        }
+        qemu_chr_fe_set_open(s, fe_open);
     }
 
     /* We're connecting to an already opened device, so let's make sure we
@@ -3423,24 +3419,16 @@
     }
 }
 
-void qemu_chr_fe_open(struct CharDriverState *chr)
+void qemu_chr_fe_set_open(struct CharDriverState *chr, int fe_open)
 {
-    if (chr->fe_open) {
+    if (chr->fe_open == fe_open) {
         return;
     }
-    chr->fe_open = 1;
-    if (chr->chr_guest_open) {
+    chr->fe_open = fe_open;
+    if (fe_open && chr->chr_guest_open) {
         chr->chr_guest_open(chr);
     }
-}
-
-void qemu_chr_fe_close(struct CharDriverState *chr)
-{
-    if (!chr->fe_open) {
-        return;
-    }
-    chr->fe_open = 0;
-    if (chr->chr_guest_close) {
+    if (!fe_open && chr->chr_guest_close) {
         chr->chr_guest_close(chr);
     }
 }