diff --git a/src/qemu/qemu_domain.c b/src/qemu/qemu_domain.c
index 01e5580893..2fed91ed6b 100644
--- a/src/qemu/qemu_domain.c
+++ b/src/qemu/qemu_domain.c
@@ -192,6 +192,9 @@ static void *qemuDomainObjPrivateAlloc(void)
     if (qemuDomainObjInitJob(priv) < 0)
         goto error;
 
+    if (!(priv->cons = virConsoleAlloc()))
+        goto error;
+
     priv->migMaxBandwidth = QEMU_DOMAIN_DEFAULT_MIG_BANDWIDTH_MAX;
 
     return priv;
@@ -214,6 +217,8 @@ static void qemuDomainObjPrivateFree(void *data)
     VIR_FREE(priv->lockState);
     VIR_FREE(priv->origname);
 
+    virConsoleFree(priv->cons);
+
     /* This should never be non-NULL if we get here, but just in case... */
     if (priv->mon) {
         VIR_ERROR(_("Unexpected QEMU monitor still active during domain deletion"));
diff --git a/src/qemu/qemu_domain.h b/src/qemu/qemu_domain.h
index 222d80e400..1333d8cd7c 100644
--- a/src/qemu/qemu_domain.h
+++ b/src/qemu/qemu_domain.h
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@
 # include "qemu_agent.h"
 # include "qemu_conf.h"
 # include "bitmap.h"
+# include "virconsole.h"
 
 # define QEMU_EXPECTED_VIRT_TYPES      \
     ((1 << VIR_DOMAIN_VIRT_QEMU) |     \
@@ -127,6 +128,8 @@ struct _qemuDomainObjPrivate {
 
     unsigned long migMaxBandwidth;
     char *origname;
+
+    virConsolesPtr cons;
 };
 
 struct qemuDomainWatchdogEvent
diff --git a/src/qemu/qemu_driver.c b/src/qemu/qemu_driver.c
index f37f1583ac..a3ba5337ac 100644
--- a/src/qemu/qemu_driver.c
+++ b/src/qemu/qemu_driver.c
@@ -11244,8 +11244,10 @@ qemuDomainOpenConsole(virDomainPtr dom,
     int ret = -1;
     int i;
     virDomainChrDefPtr chr = NULL;
+    qemuDomainObjPrivatePtr priv;
 
-    virCheckFlags(0, -1);
+    virCheckFlags(VIR_DOMAIN_CONSOLE_SAFE |
+                  VIR_DOMAIN_CONSOLE_FORCE, -1);
 
     qemuDriverLock(driver);
     virUUIDFormat(dom->uuid, uuidstr);
@@ -11262,6 +11264,8 @@ qemuDomainOpenConsole(virDomainPtr dom,
         goto cleanup;
     }
 
+    priv = vm->privateData;
+
     if (dev_name) {
         for (i = 0 ; !chr && i < vm->def->nconsoles ; i++) {
             if (vm->def->consoles[i]->info.alias &&
@@ -11297,11 +11301,18 @@ qemuDomainOpenConsole(virDomainPtr dom,
         goto cleanup;
     }
 
-    if (virFDStreamOpenFile(st, chr->source.data.file.path,
-                            0, 0, O_RDWR) < 0)
-        goto cleanup;
+    /* handle mutually exclusive access to console devices */
+    ret = virConsoleOpen(priv->cons,
+                         chr->source.data.file.path,
+                         st,
+                         (flags & VIR_DOMAIN_CONSOLE_FORCE) != 0);
+
+    if (ret == 1) {
+        qemuReportError(VIR_ERR_OPERATION_FAILED,
+                        _("Active console session exists for this domain"));
+        ret = -1;
+    }
 
-    ret = 0;
 cleanup:
     if (vm)
         virDomainObjUnlock(vm);