diff --git a/hw/xen/xen-hvm-common.c b/hw/xen/xen-hvm-common.c
index 2d1b032121..a0a0252da0 100644
--- a/hw/xen/xen-hvm-common.c
+++ b/hw/xen/xen-hvm-common.c
@@ -12,6 +12,12 @@
 
 MemoryRegion xen_memory;
 
+/* Check for xen memory.  */
+bool xen_mr_is_memory(MemoryRegion *mr)
+{
+    return mr == &xen_memory;
+}
+
 void xen_ram_alloc(ram_addr_t ram_addr, ram_addr_t size, MemoryRegion *mr,
                    Error **errp)
 {
@@ -28,7 +34,7 @@ void xen_ram_alloc(ram_addr_t ram_addr, ram_addr_t size, MemoryRegion *mr,
         return;
     }
 
-    if (mr == &xen_memory) {
+    if (xen_mr_is_memory(mr)) {
         return;
     }
 
@@ -55,7 +61,7 @@ static void xen_set_memory(struct MemoryListener *listener,
 {
     XenIOState *state = container_of(listener, XenIOState, memory_listener);
 
-    if (section->mr == &xen_memory) {
+    if (xen_mr_is_memory(section->mr)) {
         return;
     } else {
         if (add) {
diff --git a/include/sysemu/xen.h b/include/sysemu/xen.h
index 754ec2e6cb..3445888e39 100644
--- a/include/sysemu/xen.h
+++ b/include/sysemu/xen.h
@@ -49,4 +49,5 @@ static inline void xen_ram_alloc(ram_addr_t ram_addr, ram_addr_t size,
 
 #endif /* CONFIG_XEN_IS_POSSIBLE */
 
+bool xen_mr_is_memory(MemoryRegion *mr);
 #endif