diff --git a/hw/char/virtio-serial-bus.c b/hw/char/virtio-serial-bus.c
index d797a6796e..aa9c11ae92 100644
--- a/hw/char/virtio-serial-bus.c
+++ b/hw/char/virtio-serial-bus.c
@@ -1121,6 +1121,9 @@ static void virtio_serial_device_unrealize(DeviceState *dev, Error **errp)
         timer_free(vser->post_load->timer);
         g_free(vser->post_load);
     }
+
+    qbus_set_hotplug_handler(BUS(&vser->bus), NULL, errp);
+
     virtio_cleanup(vdev);
 }