diff --git a/src/qemu/qemu_driver.c b/src/qemu/qemu_driver.c
index 971cf3c275..28769878cc 100644
--- a/src/qemu/qemu_driver.c
+++ b/src/qemu/qemu_driver.c
@@ -932,12 +932,15 @@ qemuStateInitialize(bool privileged,
                             qemuDomainManagedSaveLoad,
                             qemu_driver);
 
-    qemuProcessReconnectAll(qemu_driver);
-
+    /* must be initialized before trying to reconnect to all the
+     * running domains since there might occur some QEMU monitor
+     * events that will be dispatched to the worker pool */
     qemu_driver->workerPool = virThreadPoolNew(0, 1, 0, qemuProcessEventHandler, qemu_driver);
     if (!qemu_driver->workerPool)
         goto error;
 
+    qemuProcessReconnectAll(qemu_driver);
+
     virNWFilterRegisterCallbackDriver(&qemuCallbackDriver);
     return 0;