diff --git a/hw/qxl.c b/hw/qxl.c
index dcea65d982..fe4212bff0 100644
--- a/hw/qxl.c
+++ b/hw/qxl.c
@@ -866,7 +866,9 @@ static void qxl_destroy_primary(PCIQXLDevice *d)
     dprint(d, 1, "%s\n", __FUNCTION__);
 
     d->mode = QXL_MODE_UNDEFINED;
+    qemu_mutex_unlock_iothread();
     d->ssd.worker->destroy_primary_surface(d->ssd.worker, 0);
+    qemu_mutex_lock_iothread();
 }
 
 static void qxl_set_mode(PCIQXLDevice *d, int modenr, int loadvm)