diff --git a/ui/spice-core.c b/ui/spice-core.c
index 261c6f2c11..59ce5f6370 100644
--- a/ui/spice-core.c
+++ b/ui/spice-core.c
@@ -732,6 +732,8 @@ int qemu_spice_add_interface(SpiceBaseInstance *sin)
          */
         spice_server = spice_server_new();
         spice_server_init(spice_server, &core_interface);
+        qemu_add_vm_change_state_handler(vm_change_state_handler,
+                                         &spice_server);
     }
 
     return spice_server_add_interface(spice_server, sin);