diff --git a/src/qemu/qemu_hotplug.c b/src/qemu/qemu_hotplug.c
index fe58154084..170768b3bf 100644
--- a/src/qemu/qemu_hotplug.c
+++ b/src/qemu/qemu_hotplug.c
@@ -4164,7 +4164,13 @@ int qemuDomainDetachChrDevice(virQEMUDriverPtr driver,
 
     rc = qemuDomainWaitForDeviceRemoval(vm);
     if (rc == 0 || rc == 1) {
-        virDomainVirtioSerialAddrRelease(priv->vioserialaddrs, &tmpChr->info);
+        if (chr->targetType == VIR_DOMAIN_CHR_SERIAL_TARGET_TYPE_PCI) {
+            qemuDomainReleaseDeviceAddress(vm, &tmpChr->info, NULL);
+        } else if (chr->targetType == VIR_DOMAIN_CHR_SERIAL_TARGET_TYPE_USB) {
+            /* XXX */
+        } else {
+            virDomainVirtioSerialAddrRelease(priv->vioserialaddrs, &tmpChr->info);
+        }
         ret = qemuDomainRemoveChrDevice(driver, vm, tmpChr);
     } else {
         ret = 0;