diff --git a/util/qemu-timer.c b/util/qemu-timer.c
index 213114be68..6b1533bc2a 100644
--- a/util/qemu-timer.c
+++ b/util/qemu-timer.c
@@ -685,10 +685,17 @@ int64_t qemu_clock_advance_virtual_time(int64_t dest)
 {
     int64_t clock = qemu_clock_get_ns(QEMU_CLOCK_VIRTUAL);
     AioContext *aio_context;
+    int64_t deadline;
+
     aio_context = qemu_get_aio_context();
-    while (clock < dest) {
-        int64_t deadline = qemu_clock_deadline_ns_all(QEMU_CLOCK_VIRTUAL,
+
+    deadline = qemu_clock_deadline_ns_all(QEMU_CLOCK_VIRTUAL,
                                                       QEMU_TIMER_ATTR_ALL);
+    /*
+     * A deadline of < 0 indicates this timer is not enabled, so we
+     * won't get far trying to run it forward.
+     */
+    while (deadline >= 0 && clock < dest) {
         int64_t warp = qemu_soonest_timeout(dest - clock, deadline);
 
         qemu_virtual_clock_set_ns(qemu_clock_get_ns(QEMU_CLOCK_VIRTUAL) + warp);
@@ -696,6 +703,9 @@ int64_t qemu_clock_advance_virtual_time(int64_t dest)
         qemu_clock_run_timers(QEMU_CLOCK_VIRTUAL);
         timerlist_run_timers(aio_context->tlg.tl[QEMU_CLOCK_VIRTUAL]);
         clock = qemu_clock_get_ns(QEMU_CLOCK_VIRTUAL);
+
+        deadline = qemu_clock_deadline_ns_all(QEMU_CLOCK_VIRTUAL,
+                                              QEMU_TIMER_ATTR_ALL);
     }
     qemu_clock_notify(QEMU_CLOCK_VIRTUAL);