diff --git a/tools/console/daemon/io.c b/tools/console/daemon/io.c
index bb739bdb8c..43d4973c24 100644
--- a/tools/console/daemon/io.c
+++ b/tools/console/daemon/io.c
@@ -781,6 +781,10 @@ static int console_create_ring(struct console *con)
 		con->log_fd = create_console_log(con);
 
  out:
+	/* Mark the console connected. */
+	if (!err && con->interface)
+		con->interface->connection = XENCONSOLE_CONNECTED;
+
 	return err;
 }
 
diff --git a/xen/include/public/io/console.h b/xen/include/public/io/console.h
index 4509b4b689..b9ebfaff3f 100644
--- a/xen/include/public/io/console.h
+++ b/xen/include/public/io/console.h
@@ -19,6 +19,19 @@ struct xencons_interface {
     char out[2048];
     XENCONS_RING_IDX in_cons, in_prod;
     XENCONS_RING_IDX out_cons, out_prod;
+/*
+ * Flag values signaling from backend to frontend whether the console is
+ * connected.  i.e. Whether it will be serviced and emptied.
+ *
+ * The flag starts as disconnected.
+ */
+#define XENCONSOLE_DISCONNECTED 1
+/*
+ * The flag is set to connected when the backend connects and the console
+ * will be serviced.
+ */
+#define XENCONSOLE_CONNECTED    0
+    uint8_t connection;
 };
 
 #ifdef XEN_WANT_FLEX_CONSOLE_RING