diff --git a/softmmu/memory_mapping.c b/softmmu/memory_mapping.c
index a2af02c41c..a62eaa49cc 100644
--- a/softmmu/memory_mapping.c
+++ b/softmmu/memory_mapping.c
@@ -246,6 +246,15 @@ static void guest_phys_block_add_section(GuestPhysListener *g,
 #endif
 }
 
+static int guest_phys_ram_populate_cb(MemoryRegionSection *section,
+                                      void *opaque)
+{
+    GuestPhysListener *g = opaque;
+
+    guest_phys_block_add_section(g, section);
+    return 0;
+}
+
 static void guest_phys_blocks_region_add(MemoryListener *listener,
                                          MemoryRegionSection *section)
 {
@@ -257,6 +266,17 @@ static void guest_phys_blocks_region_add(MemoryListener *listener,
         memory_region_is_nonvolatile(section->mr)) {
         return;
     }
+
+    /* for special sparse regions, only add populated parts */
+    if (memory_region_has_ram_discard_manager(section->mr)) {
+        RamDiscardManager *rdm;
+
+        rdm = memory_region_get_ram_discard_manager(section->mr);
+        ram_discard_manager_replay_populated(rdm, section,
+                                             guest_phys_ram_populate_cb, g);
+        return;
+    }
+
     guest_phys_block_add_section(g, section);
 }