diff --git a/server/char-device.c b/server/char-device.c
index 94c4f7fb..658f9f36 100644
--- a/server/char-device.c
+++ b/server/char-device.c
@@ -1109,6 +1109,11 @@ red_char_device_finalize(GObject *object)
     G_OBJECT_CLASS(red_char_device_parent_class)->finalize(object);
 }
 
+static void
+port_event_none(RedCharDevice *self G_GNUC_UNUSED, uint8_t event G_GNUC_UNUSED)
+{
+}
+
 static void
 red_char_device_class_init(RedCharDeviceClass *klass)
 {
@@ -1152,6 +1157,24 @@ red_char_device_class_init(RedCharDeviceClass *klass)
                                                         0, G_MAXUINT64, 0,
                                                         G_PARAM_STATIC_STRINGS |
                                                         G_PARAM_READWRITE));
+
+    klass->port_event = port_event_none;
+}
+
+SPICE_GNUC_VISIBLE void spice_server_port_event(SpiceCharDeviceInstance *sin, uint8_t event)
+{
+    if (sin->st == NULL) {
+        spice_warning("no SpiceCharDeviceState attached to instance %p", sin);
+        return;
+    }
+
+    RedCharDeviceClass *klass = RED_CHAR_DEVICE_GET_CLASS(sin->st);
+    if (!klass) {
+        // wrong object, a warning is already produced by RED_CHAR_DEVICE_GET_CLASS
+        return;
+    }
+
+    return klass->port_event(sin->st, event);
 }
 
 static void
diff --git a/server/char-device.h b/server/char-device.h
index f66e2a15..dccd576d 100644
--- a/server/char-device.h
+++ b/server/char-device.h
@@ -78,6 +78,9 @@ struct RedCharDeviceClass
      * due to slow flow or due to some other error.
      * The called instance should disconnect the client, or at least the corresponding channel */
     void (*remove_client)(RedCharDevice *self, RedClient *client);
+
+    /* This cb is called when device receives an event */
+    void (*port_event)(RedCharDevice *self, uint8_t event);
 };
 
 GType red_char_device_get_type(void) G_GNUC_CONST;
diff --git a/server/spicevmc.c b/server/spicevmc.c
index 34d5c6e4..a6ca59fb 100644
--- a/server/spicevmc.c
+++ b/server/spicevmc.c
@@ -866,15 +866,10 @@ void spicevmc_device_disconnect(RedsState *reds, SpiceCharDeviceInstance *sin)
     sin->st = NULL;
 }
 
-SPICE_GNUC_VISIBLE void spice_server_port_event(SpiceCharDeviceInstance *sin, uint8_t event)
+static void spicevmc_port_event(RedCharDevice *char_dev, uint8_t event)
 {
     RedVmcChannel *channel;
-    RedCharDeviceSpiceVmc *device = RED_CHAR_DEVICE_SPICEVMC(sin->st);
-
-    if (sin->st == NULL) {
-        spice_warning("no SpiceCharDeviceState attached to instance %p", sin);
-        return;
-    }
+    RedCharDeviceSpiceVmc *device = RED_CHAR_DEVICE_SPICEVMC(char_dev);
 
     channel = RED_VMC_CHANNEL(device->channel);
 
@@ -953,6 +948,7 @@ red_char_device_spicevmc_class_init(RedCharDeviceSpiceVmcClass *klass)
     char_dev_class->send_msg_to_client = spicevmc_chardev_send_msg_to_client;
     char_dev_class->send_tokens_to_client = spicevmc_char_dev_send_tokens_to_client;
     char_dev_class->remove_client = spicevmc_char_dev_remove_client;
+    char_dev_class->port_event = spicevmc_port_event;
 
     g_object_class_install_property(object_class,
                                     PROP_CHANNEL,