diff --git a/nova/tests/unit/virt/libvirt/test_host.py b/nova/tests/unit/virt/libvirt/test_host.py
index 718dd6164aa4..47ef8dbbf68a 100644
--- a/nova/tests/unit/virt/libvirt/test_host.py
+++ b/nova/tests/unit/virt/libvirt/test_host.py
@@ -65,6 +65,12 @@ class HostTestCase(test.NoDBTestCase):
         self.useFixture(fakelibvirt.FakeLibvirtFixture())
         self.host = host.Host("qemu:///system")
 
+    @mock.patch("nova.virt.libvirt.host.Host._init_events")
+    def test_repeat_initialization(self, mock_init_events):
+        for i in range(3):
+            self.host.initialize()
+        mock_init_events.assert_called_once_with()
+
     @mock.patch.object(fakelibvirt.virConnect, "registerCloseCallback")
     def test_close_callback(self, mock_close):
         self.close_callback = None
diff --git a/nova/virt/libvirt/host.py b/nova/virt/libvirt/host.py
index d3b17aa022a1..bc01f1533faf 100644
--- a/nova/virt/libvirt/host.py
+++ b/nova/virt/libvirt/host.py
@@ -104,6 +104,8 @@ class Host(object):
         #                STOPPED lifecycle event some seconds.
         self._lifecycle_delay = 15
 
+        self._initialized = False
+
     def _native_thread(self):
         """Receives async events coming in from libvirtd.
 
@@ -468,6 +470,9 @@ class Host(object):
         pass
 
     def initialize(self):
+        if self._initialized:
+            return
+
         # NOTE(dkliban): Error handler needs to be registered before libvirt
         #                connection is used for the first time.  Otherwise, the
         #                handler does not get registered.