diff --git a/include/qemu/coroutine.h b/include/qemu/coroutine.h
index e6a60d55fd..12584ed1b7 100644
--- a/include/qemu/coroutine.h
+++ b/include/qemu/coroutine.h
@@ -70,6 +70,12 @@ Coroutine *qemu_coroutine_create(CoroutineEntry *entry, void *opaque);
  */
 void qemu_coroutine_enter(Coroutine *coroutine);
 
+/**
+ * Transfer control to a coroutine if it's not active (i.e. part of the call
+ * stack of the running coroutine). Otherwise, do nothing.
+ */
+void qemu_coroutine_enter_if_inactive(Coroutine *co);
+
 /**
  * Transfer control back to a coroutine's caller
  *
diff --git a/util/qemu-coroutine.c b/util/qemu-coroutine.c
index 737bffa984..a5d2f6c0c3 100644
--- a/util/qemu-coroutine.c
+++ b/util/qemu-coroutine.c
@@ -131,6 +131,13 @@ void qemu_coroutine_enter(Coroutine *co)
     }
 }
 
+void qemu_coroutine_enter_if_inactive(Coroutine *co)
+{
+    if (!qemu_coroutine_entered(co)) {
+        qemu_coroutine_enter(co);
+    }
+}
+
 void coroutine_fn qemu_coroutine_yield(void)
 {
     Coroutine *self = qemu_coroutine_self();