diff --git a/src/qemu/qemu_driver.c b/src/qemu/qemu_driver.c
index 98cf06bd68..013add5e9b 100644
--- a/src/qemu/qemu_driver.c
+++ b/src/qemu/qemu_driver.c
@@ -5749,6 +5749,16 @@ qemuDomainDelIOThreadCheck(virDomainDefPtr def,
         }
     }
 
+    for (i = 0; i < def->ncontrollers; i++) {
+        if (def->controllers[i]->iothread == iothread_id) {
+            virReportError(VIR_ERR_INVALID_ARG,
+                           _("cannot remove IOThread '%u' since it "
+                             "is being used by controller"),
+                           iothread_id);
+            return -1;
+        }
+    }
+
     return 0;
 }