diff --git a/hw/qxl.c b/hw/qxl.c
index e7bf3a11a7..1bc2d32aa8 100644
--- a/hw/qxl.c
+++ b/hw/qxl.c
@@ -2049,6 +2049,7 @@ static int qxl_init_primary(PCIDevice *dev)
     PCIQXLDevice *qxl = DO_UPCAST(PCIQXLDevice, pci, dev);
     VGACommonState *vga = &qxl->vga;
     PortioList *qxl_vga_port_list = g_new(PortioList, 1);
+    int rc;
 
     qxl->id = 0;
     qxl_init_ramsize(qxl);
@@ -2063,9 +2064,14 @@ static int qxl_init_primary(PCIDevice *dev)
     qemu_spice_display_init_common(&qxl->ssd, vga->ds);
 
     qxl0 = qxl;
-    register_displaychangelistener(vga->ds, &display_listener);
 
-    return qxl_init_common(qxl);
+    rc = qxl_init_common(qxl);
+    if (rc != 0) {
+        return rc;
+    }
+
+    register_displaychangelistener(vga->ds, &display_listener);
+    return rc;
 }
 
 static int qxl_init_secondary(PCIDevice *dev)
diff --git a/ui/spice-display.c b/ui/spice-display.c
index fe2fdfba68..0cc0116a5d 100644
--- a/ui/spice-display.c
+++ b/ui/spice-display.c
@@ -573,7 +573,6 @@ void qemu_spice_display_init(DisplayState *ds)
 {
     assert(sdpy.ds == NULL);
     qemu_spice_display_init_common(&sdpy, ds);
-    register_displaychangelistener(ds, &display_listener);
 
     sdpy.qxl.base.sif = &dpy_interface.base;
     qemu_spice_add_interface(&sdpy.qxl.base);
@@ -581,4 +580,5 @@ void qemu_spice_display_init(DisplayState *ds)
 
     qemu_spice_create_host_memslot(&sdpy);
     qemu_spice_create_host_primary(&sdpy);
+    register_displaychangelistener(ds, &display_listener);
 }