diff --git a/docs/devel/clocks.rst b/docs/devel/clocks.rst
index c4d14bde04..b2d1148cdb 100644
--- a/docs/devel/clocks.rst
+++ b/docs/devel/clocks.rst
@@ -279,6 +279,10 @@ You can change the multiplier and divider of a clock at runtime,
 so you can use this to model clock controller devices which
 have guest-programmable frequency multipliers or dividers.
 
+Similary to ``clock_set()``, ``clock_set_mul_div()`` returns ``true`` if
+the clock state was modified; that is, if the multiplier or the diviser
+or both were changed by the call.
+
 Note that ``clock_set_mul_div()`` does not automatically call
 ``clock_propagate()``. If you make a runtime change to the
 multiplier or divider you must call clock_propagate() yourself.
diff --git a/hw/core/clock.c b/hw/core/clock.c
index d82e44cd1a..a19c7db7df 100644
--- a/hw/core/clock.c
+++ b/hw/core/clock.c
@@ -143,14 +143,20 @@ char *clock_display_freq(Clock *clk)
     return freq_to_str(clock_get_hz(clk));
 }
 
-void clock_set_mul_div(Clock *clk, uint32_t multiplier, uint32_t divider)
+bool clock_set_mul_div(Clock *clk, uint32_t multiplier, uint32_t divider)
 {
     assert(divider != 0);
 
+    if (clk->multiplier == multiplier && clk->divider == divider) {
+        return false;
+    }
+
     trace_clock_set_mul_div(CLOCK_PATH(clk), clk->multiplier, multiplier,
                             clk->divider, divider);
     clk->multiplier = multiplier;
     clk->divider = divider;
+
+    return true;
 }
 
 static void clock_initfn(Object *obj)
diff --git a/include/hw/clock.h b/include/hw/clock.h
index bb12117f67..eb58599131 100644
--- a/include/hw/clock.h
+++ b/include/hw/clock.h
@@ -357,6 +357,8 @@ char *clock_display_freq(Clock *clk);
  * @multiplier: multiplier value
  * @divider: divider value
  *
+ * @return: true if the clock is changed.
+ *
  * By default, a Clock's children will all run with the same period
  * as their parent. This function allows you to adjust the multiplier
  * and divider used to derive the child clock frequency.
@@ -374,6 +376,6 @@ char *clock_display_freq(Clock *clk);
  * Note that this function does not call clock_propagate(); the
  * caller should do that if necessary.
  */
-void clock_set_mul_div(Clock *clk, uint32_t multiplier, uint32_t divider);
+bool clock_set_mul_div(Clock *clk, uint32_t multiplier, uint32_t divider);
 
 #endif /* QEMU_HW_CLOCK_H */