diff --git a/hw/virtio-serial-bus.c b/hw/virtio-serial-bus.c
index f10d48fdb02..ca0581b512b 100644
--- a/hw/virtio-serial-bus.c
+++ b/hw/virtio-serial-bus.c
@@ -285,6 +285,13 @@ size_t virtio_serial_guest_ready(VirtIOSerialPort *port)
     return 0;
 }
 
+static void flush_queued_data_bh(void *opaque)
+{
+    VirtIOSerialPort *port = opaque;
+
+    flush_queued_data(port);
+}
+
 void virtio_serial_throttle_port(VirtIOSerialPort *port, bool throttle)
 {
     if (!port) {
@@ -295,8 +302,7 @@ void virtio_serial_throttle_port(VirtIOSerialPort *port, bool throttle)
     if (throttle) {
         return;
     }
-
-    flush_queued_data(port);
+    qemu_bh_schedule(port->bh);
 }
 
 /* Guest wants to notify us of some event */
@@ -726,6 +732,7 @@ static int virtser_port_qdev_init(DeviceState *qdev, DeviceInfo *base)
     bool plugging_port0;
 
     port->vser = bus->vser;
+    port->bh = qemu_bh_new(flush_queued_data_bh, port);
 
     /*
      * Is the first console port we're seeing? If so, put it up at
@@ -792,6 +799,7 @@ static int virtser_port_qdev_exit(DeviceState *qdev)
     VirtIOSerialPort *port = DO_UPCAST(VirtIOSerialPort, dev, qdev);
     VirtIOSerial *vser = port->vser;
 
+    qemu_bh_delete(port->bh);
     remove_port(port->vser, port->id);
 
     QTAILQ_REMOVE(&vser->ports, port, next);
diff --git a/hw/virtio-serial.h b/hw/virtio-serial.h
index 5eb948e3fdd..b783ee26ced 100644
--- a/hw/virtio-serial.h
+++ b/hw/virtio-serial.h
@@ -119,6 +119,11 @@ struct VirtIOSerialPort {
     uint32_t iov_idx;
     uint64_t iov_offset;
 
+    /*
+     * When unthrottling we use a bottom-half to call flush_queued_data.
+     */
+    QEMUBH *bh;
+
     /* Identify if this is a port that binds with hvc in the guest */
     uint8_t is_console;