diff --git a/migration/multifd.c b/migration/multifd.c
index cce3ad6988..6a59c03dd2 100644
--- a/migration/multifd.c
+++ b/migration/multifd.c
@@ -635,6 +635,7 @@ int multifd_send_sync_main(QEMUFile *f)
     for (i = 0; i < migrate_multifd_channels(); i++) {
         MultiFDSendParams *p = &multifd_send_state->params[i];
 
+        qemu_sem_wait(&multifd_send_state->channels_ready);
         trace_multifd_send_sync_main_wait(p->id);
         qemu_sem_wait(&p->sem_sync);
 
@@ -668,6 +669,7 @@ static void *multifd_send_thread(void *opaque)
     p->num_packets = 1;
 
     while (true) {
+        qemu_sem_post(&multifd_send_state->channels_ready);
         qemu_sem_wait(&p->sem);
 
         if (qatomic_read(&multifd_send_state->exiting)) {
@@ -736,7 +738,6 @@ static void *multifd_send_thread(void *opaque)
             if (flags & MULTIFD_FLAG_SYNC) {
                 qemu_sem_post(&p->sem_sync);
             }
-            qemu_sem_post(&multifd_send_state->channels_ready);
         } else if (p->quit) {
             qemu_mutex_unlock(&p->mutex);
             break;