diff --git a/migration/migration-hmp-cmds.c b/migration/migration-hmp-cmds.c
index f098d04542..8c11a8c83b 100644
--- a/migration/migration-hmp-cmds.c
+++ b/migration/migration-hmp-cmds.c
@@ -518,10 +518,22 @@ void hmp_migrate_incoming(Monitor *mon, const QDict *qdict)
 {
     Error *err = NULL;
     const char *uri = qdict_get_str(qdict, "uri");
+    MigrateChannel *channel = g_new0(MigrateChannel, 1);
+    MigrateChannelList *caps = NULL;
+
+    if (!migrate_channel_from_qdict(&channel, qdict, &err)) {
+        error_setg(&err, "error in retrieving channel from qdict");
+        goto end;
+    }
 
-    qmp_migrate_incoming(uri, &err);
+    QAPI_LIST_PREPEND(caps, channel);
+    qmp_migrate_incoming(uri, !!caps, caps, &err);
+    qapi_free_MigrateChannelList(caps);
 
+end:
+    qapi_free_MigrateChannel(channel);
     hmp_handle_error(mon, err);
+    return;
 }
 
 void hmp_migrate_recover(Monitor *mon, const QDict *qdict)
diff --git a/migration/migration.c b/migration/migration.c
index 78f16e5041..de058643a6 100644
--- a/migration/migration.c
+++ b/migration/migration.c
@@ -452,12 +452,24 @@ static bool migrate_uri_parse(const char *uri,
     return true;
 }
 
-static void qemu_start_incoming_migration(const char *uri, Error **errp)
+static void qemu_start_incoming_migration(const char *uri, bool has_channels,
+                                          MigrateChannelList *channels,
+                                          Error **errp)
 {
     Error *local_err = NULL;
     MigrateAddress *channel = g_new0(MigrateAddress, 1);
     SocketAddress *saddr;
 
+    /*
+     * Having preliminary checks for uri and channel
+     */
+    if (uri && has_channels) {
+        error_setg(errp, "'uri' and 'channels' arguments are mutually "
+                   "exclusive; exactly one of the two should be present in "
+                   "'migrate-incoming' qmp command ");
+        return;
+    }
+
     /* URI is not suitable for migration? */
     if (!migration_channels_and_uri_compatible(uri, errp)) {
         goto out;
@@ -1507,7 +1519,8 @@ void migrate_del_blocker(Error *reason)
     migration_blockers = g_slist_remove(migration_blockers, reason);
 }
 
-void qmp_migrate_incoming(const char *uri, Error **errp)
+void qmp_migrate_incoming(const char *uri, bool has_channels,
+                          MigrateChannelList *channels, Error **errp)
 {
     Error *local_err = NULL;
     static bool once = true;
@@ -1525,7 +1538,7 @@ void qmp_migrate_incoming(const char *uri, Error **errp)
         return;
     }
 
-    qemu_start_incoming_migration(uri, &local_err);
+    qemu_start_incoming_migration(uri, has_channels, channels, &local_err);
 
     if (local_err) {
         yank_unregister_instance(MIGRATION_YANK_INSTANCE);
@@ -1561,7 +1574,7 @@ void qmp_migrate_recover(const char *uri, Error **errp)
      * only re-setup the migration stream and poke existing migration
      * to continue using that newly established channel.
      */
-    qemu_start_incoming_migration(uri, errp);
+    qemu_start_incoming_migration(uri, false, NULL, errp);
 }
 
 void qmp_migrate_pause(Error **errp)
diff --git a/qapi/migration.json b/qapi/migration.json
index a71af87ffe..9faecdd048 100644
--- a/qapi/migration.json
+++ b/qapi/migration.json
@@ -1578,6 +1578,10 @@
 # @uri: The Uniform Resource Identifier identifying the source or
 #       address to listen on
 #
+# @channels: Struct containing list of migration channel types, with all
+#            the information regarding destination interfaces required for
+#            initiating a migration stream.
+#
 # Returns: nothing on success
 #
 # Since: 2.3
@@ -1593,14 +1597,43 @@
 #
 # 3. The uri format is the same as for -incoming
 #
+# 4. The 'uri' and 'channel' arguments are mutually exclusive; exactly one
+#    of the two should be present.
+#
 # Example:
 #
 # -> { "execute": "migrate-incoming",
 #      "arguments": { "uri": "tcp::4446" } }
 # <- { "return": {} }
 #
+# -> { "execute": "migrate",
+#      "arguments": {
+#          "channels": [ { "channeltype": "main",
+#                          "addr": { "transport": "socket", "type": "inet",
+#                                    "host": "10.12.34.9",
+#                                    "port": "1050" } } ] } }
+# <- { "return": {} }
+#
+# -> { "execute": "migrate",
+#      "arguments": {
+#          "channels": [ { "channeltype": "main",
+#                          "addr": { "transport": "exec",
+#                                    "args": [ "/bin/nc", "-p", "6000",
+#                                              "/some/sock" ] } } ] } }
+# <- { "return": {} }
+#
+# -> { "execute": "migrate",
+#      "arguments": {
+#          "channels": [ { "channeltype": "main",
+#                          "addr": { "transport": "rdma",
+#                                    "host": "10.12.34.9",
+#                                    "port": "1050" } } ] } }
+# <- { "return": {} }
+#
 ##
-{ 'command': 'migrate-incoming', 'data': {'uri': 'str' } }
+{ 'command': 'migrate-incoming',
+             'data': {'*uri': 'str',
+                      '*channels': [ 'MigrateChannel' ] } }
 
 ##
 # @xen-save-devices-state:
diff --git a/softmmu/vl.c b/softmmu/vl.c
index 6c2427262b..ade411eb4f 100644
--- a/softmmu/vl.c
+++ b/softmmu/vl.c
@@ -2633,7 +2633,7 @@ void qmp_x_exit_preconfig(Error **errp)
     if (incoming) {
         Error *local_err = NULL;
         if (strcmp(incoming, "defer") != 0) {
-            qmp_migrate_incoming(incoming, &local_err);
+            qmp_migrate_incoming(incoming, false, NULL, &local_err);
             if (local_err) {
                 error_reportf_err(local_err, "-incoming %s: ", incoming);
                 exit(1);
