diff --git a/src/vmm/src/builder.rs b/src/vmm/src/builder.rs
index 4a3eb48e0fca..d0ea317df6a5 100644
--- a/src/vmm/src/builder.rs
+++ b/src/vmm/src/builder.rs
@@ -168,7 +168,9 @@ pub mod aarch64 {
         if cmdline_contains_console {
             // Make stdout non-blocking.
             set_stdout_nonblocking();
-            let serial = setup_serial_device(event_manager, std::io::stdin(), std::io::stdout())?;
+            let serial = setup_serial_device(std::io::stdin(), std::io::stdout())?;
+            event_manager.add_subscriber(serial.clone());
+
             vmm.mmio_device_manager
                 .register_mmio_serial(vmm.vm.fd(), &mut vmm.resource_allocator, serial, None)
                 .map_err(VmmError::RegisterMMIODevice)?;