diff --git a/hw/virtio/virtio.c b/hw/virtio/virtio.c
index 3667cd61fd..006d3d1148 100644
--- a/hw/virtio/virtio.c
+++ b/hw/virtio/virtio.c
@@ -2572,8 +2572,9 @@ static Property virtio_properties[] = {
 static int virtio_device_start_ioeventfd_impl(VirtIODevice *vdev)
 {
     VirtioBusState *qbus = VIRTIO_BUS(qdev_get_parent_bus(DEVICE(vdev)));
-    int n, r, err;
+    int i, n, r, err;
 
+    memory_region_transaction_begin();
     for (n = 0; n < VIRTIO_QUEUE_MAX; n++) {
         VirtQueue *vq = &vdev->vq[n];
         if (!virtio_queue_get_num(vdev, n)) {
@@ -2596,9 +2597,11 @@ static int virtio_device_start_ioeventfd_impl(VirtIODevice *vdev)
         }
         event_notifier_set(&vq->host_notifier);
     }
+    memory_region_transaction_commit();
     return 0;
 
 assign_error:
+    i = n; /* save n for a second iteration after transaction is committed. */
     while (--n >= 0) {
         VirtQueue *vq = &vdev->vq[n];
         if (!virtio_queue_get_num(vdev, n)) {
@@ -2608,7 +2611,14 @@ assign_error:
         event_notifier_set_handler(&vq->host_notifier, NULL);
         r = virtio_bus_set_host_notifier(qbus, n, false);
         assert(r >= 0);
-        virtio_bus_cleanup_host_notifier(qbus, n);
+    }
+    memory_region_transaction_commit();
+
+    while (--i >= 0) {
+        if (!virtio_queue_get_num(vdev, i)) {
+            continue;
+        }
+        virtio_bus_cleanup_host_notifier(qbus, i);
     }
     return err;
 }
@@ -2626,6 +2636,7 @@ static void virtio_device_stop_ioeventfd_impl(VirtIODevice *vdev)
     VirtioBusState *qbus = VIRTIO_BUS(qdev_get_parent_bus(DEVICE(vdev)));
     int n, r;
 
+    memory_region_transaction_begin();
     for (n = 0; n < VIRTIO_QUEUE_MAX; n++) {
         VirtQueue *vq = &vdev->vq[n];
 
@@ -2635,6 +2646,13 @@ static void virtio_device_stop_ioeventfd_impl(VirtIODevice *vdev)
         event_notifier_set_handler(&vq->host_notifier, NULL);
         r = virtio_bus_set_host_notifier(qbus, n, false);
         assert(r >= 0);
+    }
+    memory_region_transaction_commit();
+
+    for (n = 0; n < VIRTIO_QUEUE_MAX; n++) {
+        if (!virtio_queue_get_num(vdev, n)) {
+            continue;
+        }
         virtio_bus_cleanup_host_notifier(qbus, n);
     }
 }