diff --git a/include/sysemu/qtest.h b/include/sysemu/qtest.h
index 112a661ac4..6aca8e4c1f 100644
--- a/include/sysemu/qtest.h
+++ b/include/sysemu/qtest.h
@@ -23,6 +23,8 @@ static inline bool qtest_enabled(void)
     return qtest_allowed;
 }
 
+bool qtest_driver(void);
+
 int qtest_init_accel(void);
 void qtest_init(const char *qtest_chrdev, const char *qtest_log);
 
diff --git a/qtest.c b/qtest.c
index dcf1301229..a738afc724 100644
--- a/qtest.c
+++ b/qtest.c
@@ -528,3 +528,8 @@ void qtest_init(const char *qtest_chrdev, const char *qtest_log)
 
     qtest_chr = chr;
 }
+
+bool qtest_driver(void)
+{
+    return qtest_chr;
+}
diff --git a/vl.c b/vl.c
index 383be1b617..a7b00cdd37 100644
--- a/vl.c
+++ b/vl.c
@@ -1750,7 +1750,7 @@ static int qemu_shutdown_requested(void)
 
 static void qemu_kill_report(void)
 {
-    if (!qtest_enabled() && shutdown_signal != -1) {
+    if (!qtest_driver() && shutdown_signal != -1) {
         fprintf(stderr, "qemu: terminating on signal %d", shutdown_signal);
         if (shutdown_pid == 0) {
             /* This happens for eg ^C at the terminal, so it's worth