diff -uNr xen-unstable.hg/tools/ioemu/hw/serial.c xen-unstable.hg-patched/tools/ioemu/hw/serial.c
--- xen-unstable.hg/tools/ioemu/hw/serial.c	2007-12-08 22:23:57.345820400 +0100
+++ xen-unstable.hg-patched/tools/ioemu/hw/serial.c	2007-12-08 22:26:41.551177930 +0100
@@ -26,16 +26,11 @@
 #include <sys/time.h>
 #include <time.h>
 #include <assert.h>
+#include <termios.h>
+#include <sys/ioctl.h>
 
 //#define DEBUG_SERIAL
 
-#define TIOCM_DTR	0x002
-#define TIOCM_RTS	0x004
-#define TIOCM_CTS	0x020
-#define TIOCM_CAR	0x040
-#define TIOCM_RI	0x080
-#define TIOCM_DSR	0x100
-
 #define UART_LCR_DLAB	0x80	/* Divisor latch access bit */
 
 #define UART_IER_MSI	0x08	/* Enable Modem status interrupt */
@@ -364,7 +359,7 @@
     SerialState *s = opaque;
     uint64_t new_xmit_ts = qemu_get_clock(vm_clock);
     
-    if ( s->tsr_retry == 0 ) {
+    if ( s->tsr_retry <= 0 ) {
         if (s->fcr & UART_FCR_FE) {
             s->tsr = fifo_get(s,XMIT_FIFO);
             if ( !s->xmit_fifo.count )
@@ -376,16 +371,22 @@
     }
 
     if ( qemu_chr_write(s->chr, &s->tsr, 1) != 1 ) {
-        s->tsr_retry++;
-        if ( s->tsr_retry <= MAX_XMIT_RETRY ) {
+        if ( ( s->tsr_retry > 0 ) && ( s->tsr_retry <= MAX_XMIT_RETRY ) ) {
+            s->tsr_retry++;
             qemu_mod_timer(s->transmit_timer,  new_xmit_ts + s->char_transmit_time );
             return;
+        } else if ( s->poll_msl < 0 ) {
+            /* If we exceed MAX_XMIT_RETRY and the backend is not a real serial port, then
+            drop any further failed writes instantly, until we get one that goes through.
+            This is to prevent guests that log to unconnected pipes or pty's from stalling. */
+            s->tsr_retry = -1;
         }
     }
- 
-    s->tsr_retry = 0;
-    s->last_xmit_ts = qemu_get_clock(vm_clock);
+    else {
+        s->tsr_retry = 0;
+    }
 
+    s->last_xmit_ts = qemu_get_clock(vm_clock);
     if ( !(s->lsr & UART_LSR_THRE) )
         qemu_mod_timer(s->transmit_timer, s->last_xmit_ts + s->char_transmit_time );