diff --git a/vl.c b/vl.c
index 06031715ac..6e34fb348d 100644
--- a/vl.c
+++ b/vl.c
@@ -1841,7 +1841,7 @@ static void main_loop(void)
 #ifdef CONFIG_PROFILER
     int64_t ti;
 #endif
-    do {
+    while (!main_loop_should_exit()) {
 #ifdef CONFIG_PROFILER
         ti = profile_getclock();
 #endif
@@ -1849,7 +1849,7 @@ static void main_loop(void)
 #ifdef CONFIG_PROFILER
         dev_time += profile_getclock() - ti;
 #endif
-    } while (!main_loop_should_exit());
+    }
 }
 
 static void version(void)