diff --git a/ui/console.c b/ui/console.c
index 8c4a2c83fa..ffa68c3a22 100644
--- a/ui/console.c
+++ b/ui/console.c
@@ -1399,6 +1399,10 @@ qemu_text_console_finalize(Object *obj)
 static void
 qemu_text_console_class_init(ObjectClass *oc, void *data)
 {
+    if (!cursor_timer) {
+        cursor_timer = timer_new_ms(QEMU_CLOCK_REALTIME,
+                                    text_console_update_cursor, NULL);
+    }
 }
 
 static void
@@ -2144,8 +2148,6 @@ static DisplayState *get_alloc_displaystate(void)
 {
     if (!display_state) {
         display_state = g_new0(DisplayState, 1);
-        cursor_timer = timer_new_ms(QEMU_CLOCK_REALTIME,
-                                    text_console_update_cursor, NULL);
     }
     return display_state;
 }