diff --git a/src/qemu/qemu_domain.c b/src/qemu/qemu_domain.c
index a5592b92c8..e0d6951e86 100644
--- a/src/qemu/qemu_domain.c
+++ b/src/qemu/qemu_domain.c
@@ -160,6 +160,7 @@ qemuDomainObjResetAsyncJob(qemuDomainObjPrivatePtr priv)
     job->mask = DEFAULT_JOB_MASK;
     job->start = 0;
     job->dump_memory_only = false;
+    job->asyncAbort = false;
     memset(&job->info, 0, sizeof(job->info));
 }
 
@@ -959,6 +960,17 @@ qemuDomainObjEndAsyncJob(struct qemud_driver *driver, virDomainObjPtr obj)
     return virObjectUnref(obj);
 }
 
+void
+qemuDomainObjAbortAsyncJob(virDomainObjPtr obj)
+{
+    qemuDomainObjPrivatePtr priv = obj->privateData;
+
+    VIR_DEBUG("Requesting abort of async job: %s",
+              qemuDomainAsyncJobTypeToString(priv->job.asyncJob));
+
+    priv->job.asyncAbort = true;
+}
+
 static int
 qemuDomainObjEnterMonitorInternal(struct qemud_driver *driver,
                                   bool driver_locked,
diff --git a/src/qemu/qemu_domain.h b/src/qemu/qemu_domain.h
index 9c2f67c7a7..a2acc0ad18 100644
--- a/src/qemu/qemu_domain.h
+++ b/src/qemu/qemu_domain.h
@@ -111,6 +111,7 @@ struct qemuDomainJobObj {
     unsigned long long start;           /* When the async job started */
     bool dump_memory_only;              /* use dump-guest-memory to do dump */
     virDomainJobInfo info;              /* Async job progress data */
+    bool asyncAbort;                    /* abort of async job requested */
 };
 
 typedef struct _qemuDomainPCIAddressSet qemuDomainPCIAddressSet;
@@ -204,6 +205,7 @@ bool qemuDomainObjEndJob(struct qemud_driver *driver,
 bool qemuDomainObjEndAsyncJob(struct qemud_driver *driver,
                               virDomainObjPtr obj)
     ATTRIBUTE_RETURN_CHECK;
+void qemuDomainObjAbortAsyncJob(virDomainObjPtr obj);
 void qemuDomainObjSetJobPhase(struct qemud_driver *driver,
                               virDomainObjPtr obj,
                               int phase);
diff --git a/src/qemu/qemu_driver.c b/src/qemu/qemu_driver.c
index 3279a99f4b..5556f1e595 100644
--- a/src/qemu/qemu_driver.c
+++ b/src/qemu/qemu_driver.c
@@ -10397,6 +10397,7 @@ static int qemuDomainAbortJob(virDomainPtr dom) {
     }
 
     VIR_DEBUG("Cancelling job at client request");
+    qemuDomainObjAbortAsyncJob(vm);
     qemuDomainObjEnterMonitor(driver, vm);
     ret = qemuMonitorMigrateCancel(priv->mon);
     qemuDomainObjExitMonitor(driver, vm);
diff --git a/src/qemu/qemu_migration.c b/src/qemu/qemu_migration.c
index 5f8a9c587f..0a52486437 100644
--- a/src/qemu/qemu_migration.c
+++ b/src/qemu/qemu_migration.c
@@ -2168,6 +2168,17 @@ qemuMigrationRun(struct qemud_driver *driver,
                                        QEMU_ASYNC_JOB_MIGRATION_OUT) < 0)
         goto cleanup;
 
+    if (priv->job.asyncAbort) {
+        /* explicitly do this *after* we entered the monitor,
+         * as this is a critical section so we are guaranteed
+         * priv->job.asyncAbort will not change */
+        qemuDomainObjExitMonitorWithDriver(driver, vm);
+        virReportError(VIR_ERR_OPERATION_ABORTED, _("%s: %s"),
+                       qemuDomainAsyncJobTypeToString(priv->job.asyncJob),
+                       _("canceled by client"));
+        goto cleanup;
+    }
+
     if (qemuMonitorSetMigrationSpeed(priv->mon, migrate_speed) < 0) {
         qemuDomainObjExitMonitorWithDriver(driver, vm);
         goto cleanup;