diff --git a/include/char/char.h b/include/char/char.h
index 09ac4014dd..e8b781cd5e 100644
--- a/include/char/char.h
+++ b/include/char/char.h
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ struct CharDriverState {
     void (*chr_guest_open)(struct CharDriverState *chr);
     void (*chr_guest_close)(struct CharDriverState *chr);
     void *opaque;
-    QEMUTimer *open_timer;
+    int idle_tag;
     char *label;
     char *filename;
     int opened;
diff --git a/qemu-char.c b/qemu-char.c
index 6dba943667..2c7c929085 100644
--- a/qemu-char.c
+++ b/qemu-char.c
@@ -122,20 +122,18 @@ void qemu_chr_be_event(CharDriverState *s, int event)
     s->chr_event(s->handler_opaque, event);
 }
 
-static void qemu_chr_fire_open_event(void *opaque)
+static gboolean qemu_chr_generic_open_bh(gpointer opaque)
 {
     CharDriverState *s = opaque;
     qemu_chr_be_event(s, CHR_EVENT_OPENED);
-    qemu_free_timer(s->open_timer);
-    s->open_timer = NULL;
+    s->idle_tag = 0;
+    return FALSE;
 }
 
 void qemu_chr_generic_open(CharDriverState *s)
 {
-    if (s->open_timer == NULL) {
-        s->open_timer = qemu_new_timer_ms(rt_clock,
-                                          qemu_chr_fire_open_event, s);
-        qemu_mod_timer(s->open_timer, qemu_get_clock_ms(rt_clock) - 1);
+    if (s->idle_tag == 0) {
+        s->idle_tag = g_idle_add(qemu_chr_generic_open_bh, s);
     }
 }