diff --git a/monitor.c b/monitor.c
index ab65a9aab3..a7af002edb 100644
--- a/monitor.c
+++ b/monitor.c
@@ -4605,13 +4605,13 @@ void monitor_init(CharDriverState *chr, int flags)
         qemu_chr_add_handlers(chr, monitor_can_read, monitor_control_read,
                               monitor_control_event, mon);
         qemu_chr_fe_set_echo(chr, true);
+
+        json_message_parser_init(&mon->mc->parser, handle_qmp_command);
     } else {
         qemu_chr_add_handlers(chr, monitor_can_read, monitor_read,
                               monitor_event, mon);
     }
 
-    json_message_parser_init(&mon->mc->parser, handle_qmp_command);
-
     QLIST_INSERT_HEAD(&mon_list, mon, entry);
     if (!default_mon || (flags & MONITOR_IS_DEFAULT))
         default_mon = mon;