diff --git a/vl.c b/vl.c
index 510d2c2ce..47ab45d37 100644
--- a/vl.c
+++ b/vl.c
@@ -2022,7 +2022,7 @@ static void main_loop(void)
     int64_t ti;
 #endif
     do {
-        nonblocking = !kvm_enabled() && last_io > 0;
+        nonblocking = !kvm_enabled() && !xen_enabled() && last_io > 0;
 #ifdef CONFIG_PROFILER
         ti = profile_getclock();
 #endif