diff --git a/MAINTAINERS b/MAINTAINERS
index 1c56d45b16..bd7ee23101 100644
--- a/MAINTAINERS
+++ b/MAINTAINERS
@@ -406,7 +406,7 @@ Guest CPU Cores (Xen)
 X86 Xen CPUs
 M: Stefano Stabellini <sstabellini@kernel.org>
 M: Anthony Perard <anthony.perard@citrix.com>
-M: Paul Durrant <paul.durrant@citrix.com>
+M: Paul Durrant <paul@xen.org>
 L: xen-devel@lists.xenproject.org
 S: Supported
 F: */xen*
diff --git a/hw/block/xen-block.c b/hw/block/xen-block.c
index f77343db60..879fc310a4 100644
--- a/hw/block/xen-block.c
+++ b/hw/block/xen-block.c
@@ -313,6 +313,7 @@ static void xen_block_frontend_changed(XenDevice *xendev,
         break;
 
     case XenbusStateClosed:
+    case XenbusStateUnknown:
         xen_block_disconnect(xendev, &local_err);
         if (local_err) {
             error_propagate(errp, local_err);
diff --git a/hw/xen/trace-events b/hw/xen/trace-events
index bc82ecb1a5..e6885bc751 100644
--- a/hw/xen/trace-events
+++ b/hw/xen/trace-events
@@ -17,11 +17,12 @@ xen_domid_restrict(int err) "err: %u"
 xen_bus_realize(void) ""
 xen_bus_unrealize(void) ""
 xen_bus_enumerate(void) ""
+xen_bus_cleanup(void) ""
 xen_bus_type_enumerate(const char *type) "type: %s"
 xen_bus_backend_create(const char *type, const char *path) "type: %s path: %s"
-xen_bus_add_watch(const char *node, const char *key, char *token) "node: %s key: %s token: %s"
-xen_bus_remove_watch(const char *node, const char *key, char *token) "node: %s key: %s token: %s"
-xen_bus_watch(const char *token) "token: %s"
+xen_bus_device_cleanup(const char *type, char *name) "type: %s name: %s"
+xen_bus_add_watch(const char *node, const char *key) "node: %s key: %s"
+xen_bus_remove_watch(const char *node, const char *key) "node: %s key: %s"
 xen_device_realize(const char *type, char *name) "type: %s name: %s"
 xen_device_unrealize(const char *type, char *name) "type: %s name: %s"
 xen_device_backend_state(const char *type, char *name, const char *state) "type: %s name: %s -> %s"
@@ -30,6 +31,8 @@ xen_device_backend_changed(const char *type, char *name) "type: %s name: %s"
 xen_device_frontend_state(const char *type, char *name, const char *state) "type: %s name: %s -> %s"
 xen_device_frontend_changed(const char *type, char *name) "type: %s name: %s"
 xen_device_unplug(const char *type, char *name) "type: %s name: %s"
+xen_device_add_watch(const char *type, char *name, const char *node, const char *key) "type: %s name: %s node: %s key: %s"
+xen_device_remove_watch(const char *type, char *name, const char *node, const char *key) "type: %s name: %s node: %s key: %s"
 
 # xen-bus-helper.c
 xs_node_create(const char *node) "%s"
diff --git a/hw/xen/xen-bus.c b/hw/xen/xen-bus.c
index a04478ad4f..c2ad22a42d 100644
--- a/hw/xen/xen-bus.c
+++ b/hw/xen/xen-bus.c
@@ -157,18 +157,60 @@ static void free_watch(XenWatch *watch)
     g_free(watch);
 }
 
-static XenWatch *xen_bus_add_watch(XenBus *xenbus, const char *node,
-                                   const char *key, XenWatchHandler handler,
-                                   void *opaque, Error **errp)
+struct XenWatchList {
+    struct xs_handle *xsh;
+    NotifierList notifiers;
+};
+
+static void watch_list_event(void *opaque)
+{
+    XenWatchList *watch_list = opaque;
+    char **v;
+    const char *token;
+
+    v = xs_check_watch(watch_list->xsh);
+    if (!v) {
+        return;
+    }
+
+    token = v[XS_WATCH_TOKEN];
+
+    notifier_list_notify(&watch_list->notifiers, (void *)token);
+
+    free(v);
+}
+
+static XenWatchList *watch_list_create(struct xs_handle *xsh)
+{
+    XenWatchList *watch_list = g_new0(XenWatchList, 1);
+
+    g_assert(xsh);
+
+    watch_list->xsh = xsh;
+    notifier_list_init(&watch_list->notifiers);
+    qemu_set_fd_handler(xs_fileno(watch_list->xsh), watch_list_event, NULL,
+                        watch_list);
+
+    return watch_list;
+}
+
+static void watch_list_destroy(XenWatchList *watch_list)
+{
+    g_assert(notifier_list_empty(&watch_list->notifiers));
+    qemu_set_fd_handler(xs_fileno(watch_list->xsh), NULL, NULL, NULL);
+    g_free(watch_list);
+}
+
+static XenWatch *watch_list_add(XenWatchList *watch_list, const char *node,
+                                const char *key, XenWatchHandler handler,
+                                void *opaque, Error **errp)
 {
     XenWatch *watch = new_watch(node, key, handler, opaque);
     Error *local_err = NULL;
 
-    trace_xen_bus_add_watch(watch->node, watch->key, watch->token);
+    notifier_list_add(&watch_list->notifiers, &watch->notifier);
 
-    notifier_list_add(&xenbus->watch_notifiers, &watch->notifier);
-
-    xs_node_watch(xenbus->xsh, node, key, watch->token, &local_err);
+    xs_node_watch(watch_list->xsh, node, key, watch->token, &local_err);
     if (local_err) {
         error_propagate(errp, local_err);
 
@@ -181,18 +223,34 @@ static XenWatch *xen_bus_add_watch(XenBus *xenbus, const char *node,
     return watch;
 }
 
-static void xen_bus_remove_watch(XenBus *xenbus, XenWatch *watch,
-                                 Error **errp)
+static void watch_list_remove(XenWatchList *watch_list, XenWatch *watch,
+                              Error **errp)
 {
-    trace_xen_bus_remove_watch(watch->node, watch->key, watch->token);
-
-    xs_node_unwatch(xenbus->xsh, watch->node, watch->key, watch->token,
+    xs_node_unwatch(watch_list->xsh, watch->node, watch->key, watch->token,
                     errp);
 
     notifier_remove(&watch->notifier);
     free_watch(watch);
 }
 
+static XenWatch *xen_bus_add_watch(XenBus *xenbus, const char *node,
+                                   const char *key, XenWatchHandler handler,
+                                   Error **errp)
+{
+    trace_xen_bus_add_watch(node, key);
+
+    return watch_list_add(xenbus->watch_list, node, key, handler, xenbus,
+                          errp);
+}
+
+static void xen_bus_remove_watch(XenBus *xenbus, XenWatch *watch,
+                                 Error **errp)
+{
+    trace_xen_bus_remove_watch(watch->node, watch->key);
+
+    watch_list_remove(xenbus->watch_list, watch, errp);
+}
+
 static void xen_bus_backend_create(XenBus *xenbus, const char *type,
                                    const char *name, char *path,
                                    Error **errp)
@@ -282,13 +340,18 @@ static void xen_bus_type_enumerate(XenBus *xenbus, const char *type)
     for (i = 0; i < n; i++) {
         char *backend_path = g_strdup_printf("%s/%s", domain_path,
                                              backend[i]);
-        enum xenbus_state backend_state;
+        enum xenbus_state state;
+        unsigned int online;
 
         if (xs_node_scanf(xenbus->xsh, XBT_NULL, backend_path, "state",
-                          NULL, "%u", &backend_state) != 1)
-            backend_state = XenbusStateUnknown;
+                          NULL, "%u", &state) != 1)
+            state = XenbusStateUnknown;
 
-        if (backend_state == XenbusStateInitialising) {
+        if (xs_node_scanf(xenbus->xsh, XBT_NULL, backend_path, "online",
+                          NULL, "%u", &online) != 1)
+            online = 0;
+
+        if (online && state == XenbusStateInitialising) {
             Error *local_err = NULL;
 
             xen_bus_backend_create(xenbus, type, backend[i], backend_path,
@@ -307,9 +370,8 @@ out:
     g_free(domain_path);
 }
 
-static void xen_bus_enumerate(void *opaque)
+static void xen_bus_enumerate(XenBus *xenbus)
 {
-    XenBus *xenbus = opaque;
     char **type;
     unsigned int i, n;
 
@@ -327,6 +389,45 @@ static void xen_bus_enumerate(void *opaque)
     free(type);
 }
 
+static void xen_bus_device_cleanup(XenDevice *xendev)
+{
+    const char *type = object_get_typename(OBJECT(xendev));
+    Error *local_err = NULL;
+
+    trace_xen_bus_device_cleanup(type, xendev->name);
+
+    g_assert(!xendev->backend_online);
+
+    if (!xen_backend_try_device_destroy(xendev, &local_err)) {
+        object_unparent(OBJECT(xendev));
+    }
+
+    if (local_err) {
+        error_report_err(local_err);
+    }
+}
+
+static void xen_bus_cleanup(XenBus *xenbus)
+{
+    XenDevice *xendev, *next;
+
+    trace_xen_bus_cleanup();
+
+    QLIST_FOREACH_SAFE(xendev, &xenbus->inactive_devices, list, next) {
+        g_assert(xendev->inactive);
+        QLIST_REMOVE(xendev, list);
+        xen_bus_device_cleanup(xendev);
+    }
+}
+
+static void xen_bus_backend_changed(void *opaque)
+{
+    XenBus *xenbus = opaque;
+
+    xen_bus_enumerate(xenbus);
+    xen_bus_cleanup(xenbus);
+}
+
 static void xen_bus_unrealize(BusState *bus, Error **errp)
 {
     XenBus *xenbus = XEN_BUS(bus);
@@ -338,35 +439,14 @@ static void xen_bus_unrealize(BusState *bus, Error **errp)
         xenbus->backend_watch = NULL;
     }
 
-    if (!xenbus->xsh) {
-        return;
+    if (xenbus->watch_list) {
+        watch_list_destroy(xenbus->watch_list);
+        xenbus->watch_list = NULL;
     }
 
-    qemu_set_fd_handler(xs_fileno(xenbus->xsh), NULL, NULL, NULL);
-
-    xs_close(xenbus->xsh);
-}
-
-static void xen_bus_watch(void *opaque)
-{
-    XenBus *xenbus = opaque;
-    char **v;
-    const char *token;
-
-    g_assert(xenbus->xsh);
-
-    v = xs_check_watch(xenbus->xsh);
-    if (!v) {
-        return;
+    if (xenbus->xsh) {
+        xs_close(xenbus->xsh);
     }
-
-    token = v[XS_WATCH_TOKEN];
-
-    trace_xen_bus_watch(token);
-
-    notifier_list_notify(&xenbus->watch_notifiers, (void *)token);
-
-    free(v);
 }
 
 static void xen_bus_realize(BusState *bus, Error **errp)
@@ -390,15 +470,13 @@ static void xen_bus_realize(BusState *bus, Error **errp)
         xenbus->backend_id = 0; /* Assume lack of node means dom0 */
     }
 
-    notifier_list_init(&xenbus->watch_notifiers);
-    qemu_set_fd_handler(xs_fileno(xenbus->xsh), xen_bus_watch, NULL,
-                        xenbus);
+    xenbus->watch_list = watch_list_create(xenbus->xsh);
 
     module_call_init(MODULE_INIT_XEN_BACKEND);
 
     xenbus->backend_watch =
         xen_bus_add_watch(xenbus, "", /* domain root node */
-                          "backend", xen_bus_enumerate, xenbus, &local_err);
+                          "backend", xen_bus_backend_changed, &local_err);
     if (local_err) {
         /* This need not be treated as a hard error so don't propagate */
         error_reportf_err(local_err,
@@ -520,9 +598,9 @@ static void xen_device_backend_set_online(XenDevice *xendev, bool online)
  * Tell from the state whether the frontend is likely alive,
  * i.e. it will react to a change of state of the backend.
  */
-static bool xen_device_state_is_active(enum xenbus_state state)
+static bool xen_device_frontend_is_active(XenDevice *xendev)
 {
-    switch (state) {
+    switch (xendev->frontend_state) {
     case XenbusStateInitWait:
     case XenbusStateInitialised:
     case XenbusStateConnected:
@@ -559,33 +637,59 @@ static void xen_device_backend_changed(void *opaque)
      * state to Closing, but there is no active frontend then set the
      * backend state to Closed.
      */
-    if (xendev->backend_state == XenbusStateClosing &&
-        !xen_device_state_is_active(state)) {
+    if (state == XenbusStateClosing &&
+        !xen_device_frontend_is_active(xendev)) {
         xen_device_backend_set_state(xendev, XenbusStateClosed);
     }
 
     /*
      * If a backend is still 'online' then we should leave it alone but,
-     * if a backend is not 'online', then the device should be destroyed
-     * once the state is Closed.
+     * if a backend is not 'online', then the device is a candidate
+     * for destruction. Hence add it to the 'inactive' list to be cleaned
+     * by xen_bus_cleanup().
      */
-    if (!xendev->backend_online &&
-        (xendev->backend_state == XenbusStateClosed ||
-         xendev->backend_state == XenbusStateInitialising ||
-         xendev->backend_state == XenbusStateInitWait ||
-         xendev->backend_state == XenbusStateUnknown)) {
-        Error *local_err = NULL;
+    if (!online &&
+        (state == XenbusStateClosed ||  state == XenbusStateInitialising ||
+         state == XenbusStateInitWait || state == XenbusStateUnknown) &&
+        !xendev->inactive) {
+        XenBus *xenbus = XEN_BUS(qdev_get_parent_bus(DEVICE(xendev)));
 
-        if (!xen_backend_try_device_destroy(xendev, &local_err)) {
-            object_unparent(OBJECT(xendev));
-        }
+        xendev->inactive = true;
+        QLIST_INSERT_HEAD(&xenbus->inactive_devices, xendev, list);
 
-        if (local_err) {
-            error_report_err(local_err);
-        }
+        /*
+         * Re-write the state to cause a XenBus backend_watch notification,
+         * resulting in a call to xen_bus_cleanup().
+         */
+        xen_device_backend_printf(xendev, "state", "%u", state);
     }
 }
 
+static XenWatch *xen_device_add_watch(XenDevice *xendev, const char *node,
+                                      const char *key,
+                                      XenWatchHandler handler,
+                                      Error **errp)
+{
+    const char *type = object_get_typename(OBJECT(xendev));
+
+    trace_xen_device_add_watch(type, xendev->name, node, key);
+
+    return watch_list_add(xendev->watch_list, node, key, handler, xendev,
+                          errp);
+}
+
+static void xen_device_remove_watch(XenDevice *xendev, XenWatch *watch,
+                                    Error **errp)
+{
+    const char *type = object_get_typename(OBJECT(xendev));
+
+    trace_xen_device_remove_watch(type, xendev->name, watch->node,
+                                  watch->key);
+
+    watch_list_remove(xendev->watch_list, watch, errp);
+}
+
+
 static void xen_device_backend_create(XenDevice *xendev, Error **errp)
 {
     XenBus *xenbus = XEN_BUS(qdev_get_parent_bus(DEVICE(xendev)));
@@ -610,9 +714,9 @@ static void xen_device_backend_create(XenDevice *xendev, Error **errp)
     }
 
     xendev->backend_state_watch =
-        xen_bus_add_watch(xenbus, xendev->backend_path,
-                          "state", xen_device_backend_changed,
-                          xendev, &local_err);
+        xen_device_add_watch(xendev, xendev->backend_path,
+                             "state", xen_device_backend_changed,
+                             &local_err);
     if (local_err) {
         error_propagate_prepend(errp, local_err,
                                 "failed to watch backend state: ");
@@ -620,9 +724,9 @@ static void xen_device_backend_create(XenDevice *xendev, Error **errp)
     }
 
     xendev->backend_online_watch =
-        xen_bus_add_watch(xenbus, xendev->backend_path,
-                          "online", xen_device_backend_changed,
-                          xendev, &local_err);
+        xen_device_add_watch(xendev, xendev->backend_path,
+                             "online", xen_device_backend_changed,
+                             &local_err);
     if (local_err) {
         error_propagate_prepend(errp, local_err,
                                 "failed to watch backend online: ");
@@ -636,12 +740,12 @@ static void xen_device_backend_destroy(XenDevice *xendev)
     Error *local_err = NULL;
 
     if (xendev->backend_online_watch) {
-        xen_bus_remove_watch(xenbus, xendev->backend_online_watch, NULL);
+        xen_device_remove_watch(xendev, xendev->backend_online_watch, NULL);
         xendev->backend_online_watch = NULL;
     }
 
     if (xendev->backend_state_watch) {
-        xen_bus_remove_watch(xenbus, xendev->backend_state_watch, NULL);
+        xen_device_remove_watch(xendev, xendev->backend_state_watch, NULL);
         xendev->backend_state_watch = NULL;
     }
 
@@ -753,6 +857,13 @@ static void xen_device_frontend_changed(void *opaque)
     }
 }
 
+static bool xen_device_frontend_exists(XenDevice *xendev)
+{
+    enum xenbus_state state;
+
+    return (xen_device_frontend_scanf(xendev, "state", "%u", &state) == 1);
+}
+
 static void xen_device_frontend_create(XenDevice *xendev, Error **errp)
 {
     XenBus *xenbus = XEN_BUS(qdev_get_parent_bus(DEVICE(xendev)));
@@ -761,24 +872,30 @@ static void xen_device_frontend_create(XenDevice *xendev, Error **errp)
 
     xendev->frontend_path = xen_device_get_frontend_path(xendev);
 
-    perms[0].id = xendev->frontend_id;
-    perms[0].perms = XS_PERM_NONE;
-    perms[1].id = xenbus->backend_id;
-    perms[1].perms = XS_PERM_READ | XS_PERM_WRITE;
+    /*
+     * The frontend area may have already been created by a legacy
+     * toolstack.
+     */
+    if (!xen_device_frontend_exists(xendev)) {
+        perms[0].id = xendev->frontend_id;
+        perms[0].perms = XS_PERM_NONE;
+        perms[1].id = xenbus->backend_id;
+        perms[1].perms = XS_PERM_READ | XS_PERM_WRITE;
 
-    g_assert(xenbus->xsh);
+        g_assert(xenbus->xsh);
 
-    xs_node_create(xenbus->xsh, XBT_NULL, xendev->frontend_path, perms,
-                   ARRAY_SIZE(perms), &local_err);
-    if (local_err) {
-        error_propagate_prepend(errp, local_err,
-                                "failed to create frontend: ");
-        return;
+        xs_node_create(xenbus->xsh, XBT_NULL, xendev->frontend_path, perms,
+                       ARRAY_SIZE(perms), &local_err);
+        if (local_err) {
+            error_propagate_prepend(errp, local_err,
+                                    "failed to create frontend: ");
+            return;
+        }
     }
 
     xendev->frontend_state_watch =
-        xen_bus_add_watch(xenbus, xendev->frontend_path, "state",
-                          xen_device_frontend_changed, xendev, &local_err);
+        xen_device_add_watch(xendev, xendev->frontend_path, "state",
+                             xen_device_frontend_changed, &local_err);
     if (local_err) {
         error_propagate_prepend(errp, local_err,
                                 "failed to watch frontend state: ");
@@ -791,7 +908,8 @@ static void xen_device_frontend_destroy(XenDevice *xendev)
     Error *local_err = NULL;
 
     if (xendev->frontend_state_watch) {
-        xen_bus_remove_watch(xenbus, xendev->frontend_state_watch, NULL);
+        xen_device_remove_watch(xendev, xendev->frontend_state_watch,
+                                NULL);
         xendev->frontend_state_watch = NULL;
     }
 
@@ -1087,6 +1205,16 @@ static void xen_device_unrealize(DeviceState *dev, Error **errp)
         xendev->xgth = NULL;
     }
 
+    if (xendev->watch_list) {
+        watch_list_destroy(xendev->watch_list);
+        xendev->watch_list = NULL;
+    }
+
+    if (xendev->xsh) {
+        xs_close(xendev->xsh);
+        xendev->xsh = NULL;
+    }
+
     g_free(xendev->name);
     xendev->name = NULL;
 }
@@ -1129,6 +1257,14 @@ static void xen_device_realize(DeviceState *dev, Error **errp)
 
     trace_xen_device_realize(type, xendev->name);
 
+    xendev->xsh = xs_open(0);
+    if (!xendev->xsh) {
+        error_setg_errno(errp, errno, "failed xs_open");
+        goto unrealize;
+    }
+
+    xendev->watch_list = watch_list_create(xendev->xsh);
+
     xendev->xgth = xengnttab_open(NULL, 0);
     if (!xendev->xgth) {
         error_setg_errno(errp, errno, "failed xengnttab_open");
@@ -1167,12 +1303,14 @@ static void xen_device_realize(DeviceState *dev, Error **errp)
     xen_device_backend_set_online(xendev, true);
     xen_device_backend_set_state(xendev, XenbusStateInitWait);
 
-    xen_device_frontend_printf(xendev, "backend", "%s",
-                               xendev->backend_path);
-    xen_device_frontend_printf(xendev, "backend-id", "%u",
-                               xenbus->backend_id);
+    if (!xen_device_frontend_exists(xendev)) {
+        xen_device_frontend_printf(xendev, "backend", "%s",
+                                   xendev->backend_path);
+        xen_device_frontend_printf(xendev, "backend-id", "%u",
+                                   xenbus->backend_id);
 
-    xen_device_frontend_set_state(xendev, XenbusStateInitialising, true);
+        xen_device_frontend_set_state(xendev, XenbusStateInitialising, true);
+    }
 
     xendev->exit.notify = xen_device_exit;
     qemu_add_exit_notifier(&xendev->exit);
diff --git a/include/hw/xen/xen-bus.h b/include/hw/xen/xen-bus.h
index 1c2d9dfdb8..3d5532258d 100644
--- a/include/hw/xen/xen-bus.h
+++ b/include/hw/xen/xen-bus.h
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@
 
 typedef void (*XenWatchHandler)(void *opaque);
 
+typedef struct XenWatchList XenWatchList;
 typedef struct XenWatch XenWatch;
 typedef struct XenEventChannel XenEventChannel;
 
@@ -21,6 +22,8 @@ typedef struct XenDevice {
     DeviceState qdev;
     domid_t frontend_id;
     char *name;
+    struct xs_handle *xsh;
+    XenWatchList *watch_list;
     char *backend_path, *frontend_path;
     enum xenbus_state backend_state, frontend_state;
     Notifier exit;
@@ -29,7 +32,9 @@ typedef struct XenDevice {
     XenWatch *backend_online_watch;
     xengnttab_handle *xgth;
     bool feature_grant_copy;
+    bool inactive;
     QLIST_HEAD(, XenEventChannel) event_channels;
+    QLIST_ENTRY(XenDevice) list;
 } XenDevice;
 
 typedef char *(*XenDeviceGetName)(XenDevice *xendev, Error **errp);
@@ -63,8 +68,9 @@ typedef struct XenBus {
     BusState qbus;
     domid_t backend_id;
     struct xs_handle *xsh;
-    NotifierList watch_notifiers;
+    XenWatchList *watch_list;
     XenWatch *backend_watch;
+    QLIST_HEAD(, XenDevice) inactive_devices;
 } XenBus;
 
 typedef struct XenBusClass {
diff --git a/include/qemu/notify.h b/include/qemu/notify.h
index a3d73e4bc7..bcfa70fb2e 100644
--- a/include/qemu/notify.h
+++ b/include/qemu/notify.h
@@ -40,6 +40,8 @@ void notifier_remove(Notifier *notifier);
 
 void notifier_list_notify(NotifierList *list, void *data);
 
+bool notifier_list_empty(NotifierList *list);
+
 /* Same as Notifier but allows .notify() to return errors */
 typedef struct NotifierWithReturn NotifierWithReturn;
 
diff --git a/util/notify.c b/util/notify.c
index aee8d93cb0..76bab212ae 100644
--- a/util/notify.c
+++ b/util/notify.c
@@ -40,6 +40,11 @@ void notifier_list_notify(NotifierList *list, void *data)
     }
 }
 
+bool notifier_list_empty(NotifierList *list)
+{
+    return QLIST_EMPTY(&list->notifiers);
+}
+
 void notifier_with_return_list_init(NotifierWithReturnList *list)
 {
     QLIST_INIT(&list->notifiers);