diff --git a/hw/char/virtio-serial-bus.c b/hw/char/virtio-serial-bus.c
index 23123b730e..3931085983 100644
--- a/hw/char/virtio-serial-bus.c
+++ b/hw/char/virtio-serial-bus.c
@@ -26,6 +26,10 @@
 #include "hw/virtio/virtio-serial.h"
 #include "hw/virtio/virtio-access.h"
 
+struct VirtIOSerialDevices {
+    QLIST_HEAD(, VirtIOSerial) devices;
+} vserdevices;
+
 static VirtIOSerialPort *find_port_by_id(VirtIOSerial *vser, uint32_t id)
 {
     VirtIOSerialPort *port;
@@ -52,6 +56,22 @@ static VirtIOSerialPort *find_port_by_vq(VirtIOSerial *vser, VirtQueue *vq)
     return NULL;
 }
 
+static VirtIOSerialPort *find_port_by_name(char *name)
+{
+    VirtIOSerial *vser;
+
+    QLIST_FOREACH(vser, &vserdevices.devices, next) {
+        VirtIOSerialPort *port;
+
+        QTAILQ_FOREACH(port, &vser->ports, next) {
+            if (!strcmp(port->name, name)) {
+                return port;
+            }
+        }
+    }
+    return NULL;
+}
+
 static bool use_multiport(VirtIOSerial *vser)
 {
     VirtIODevice *vdev = VIRTIO_DEVICE(vser);
@@ -851,6 +871,12 @@ static void virtser_port_device_realize(DeviceState *dev, Error **errp)
         return;
     }
 
+    if (find_port_by_name(port->name)) {
+        error_setg(errp, "virtio-serial-bus: A port already exists by name %s",
+                   port->name);
+        return;
+    }
+
     if (port->id == VIRTIO_CONSOLE_BAD_ID) {
         if (plugging_port0) {
             port->id = 0;
@@ -983,6 +1009,8 @@ static void virtio_serial_device_realize(DeviceState *dev, Error **errp)
      */
     register_savevm(dev, "virtio-console", -1, 3, virtio_serial_save,
                     virtio_serial_load, vser);
+
+    QLIST_INSERT_HEAD(&vserdevices.devices, vser, next);
 }
 
 static void virtio_serial_port_class_init(ObjectClass *klass, void *data)
@@ -1011,6 +1039,8 @@ static void virtio_serial_device_unrealize(DeviceState *dev, Error **errp)
     VirtIODevice *vdev = VIRTIO_DEVICE(dev);
     VirtIOSerial *vser = VIRTIO_SERIAL(dev);
 
+    QLIST_REMOVE(vser, next);
+
     unregister_savevm(dev, "virtio-console", vser);
 
     g_free(vser->ivqs);
@@ -1035,6 +1065,8 @@ static void virtio_serial_class_init(ObjectClass *klass, void *data)
     DeviceClass *dc = DEVICE_CLASS(klass);
     VirtioDeviceClass *vdc = VIRTIO_DEVICE_CLASS(klass);
 
+    QLIST_INIT(&vserdevices.devices);
+
     dc->props = virtio_serial_properties;
     set_bit(DEVICE_CATEGORY_INPUT, dc->categories);
     vdc->realize = virtio_serial_device_realize;
diff --git a/include/hw/virtio/virtio-serial.h b/include/hw/virtio/virtio-serial.h
index 4746312a83..a679e54aab 100644
--- a/include/hw/virtio/virtio-serial.h
+++ b/include/hw/virtio/virtio-serial.h
@@ -202,6 +202,8 @@ struct VirtIOSerial {
 
     QTAILQ_HEAD(, VirtIOSerialPort) ports;
 
+    QLIST_ENTRY(VirtIOSerial) next;
+
     /* bitmap for identifying active ports */
     uint32_t *ports_map;