diff --git a/tests/boot-serial-test.c b/tests/boot-serial-test.c
index 57edf6af33..11f48b049c 100644
--- a/tests/boot-serial-test.c
+++ b/tests/boot-serial-test.c
@@ -79,8 +79,8 @@ static void test_machine(const void *data)
     g_assert(fd != -1);
 
     args = g_strdup_printf("-M %s,accel=tcg -chardev file,id=serial0,path=%s"
-                           " -serial chardev:serial0 %s", test->machine,
-                           tmpname, test->extra);
+                           " -no-shutdown -serial chardev:serial0 %s",
+                           test->machine, tmpname, test->extra);
 
     qtest_start(args);
     unlink(tmpname);