diff --git a/hw/virtio/trace-events b/hw/virtio/trace-events
index 3ed7da35f2..8a223e36e9 100644
--- a/hw/virtio/trace-events
+++ b/hw/virtio/trace-events
@@ -163,3 +163,7 @@ virtio_snd_vm_state_running(void) "vm state running"
 virtio_snd_vm_state_stopped(void) "vm state stopped"
 virtio_snd_realize(void *snd) "snd %p: realize"
 virtio_snd_unrealize(void *snd) "snd %p: unrealize"
+virtio_snd_handle_ctrl(void *vdev, void *vq) "snd %p: handle ctrl event for queue %p"
+virtio_snd_handle_code(uint32_t val, const char *code) "ctrl code msg val = %"PRIu32" == %s"
+virtio_snd_handle_chmap_info(void) "VIRTIO_SND_CHMAP_INFO called"
+virtio_snd_handle_event(void) "event queue callback called"
diff --git a/hw/virtio/virtio-snd.c b/hw/virtio/virtio-snd.c
index a8204e8a02..cb5573935d 100644
--- a/hw/virtio/virtio-snd.c
+++ b/hw/virtio/virtio-snd.c
@@ -90,13 +90,181 @@ virtio_snd_set_config(VirtIODevice *vdev, const uint8_t *config)
     memcpy(&s->snd_conf, sndconfig, sizeof(s->snd_conf));
 }
 
+static void
+virtio_snd_ctrl_cmd_free(virtio_snd_ctrl_command *cmd)
+{
+    g_free(cmd->elem);
+    g_free(cmd);
+}
+
+static const char *print_code(uint32_t code)
+{
+    #define CASE(CODE)            \
+    case VIRTIO_SND_R_##CODE:     \
+        return "VIRTIO_SND_R_"#CODE
+
+    switch (code) {
+    CASE(JACK_INFO);
+    CASE(JACK_REMAP);
+    CASE(PCM_INFO);
+    CASE(PCM_SET_PARAMS);
+    CASE(PCM_PREPARE);
+    CASE(PCM_RELEASE);
+    CASE(PCM_START);
+    CASE(PCM_STOP);
+    CASE(CHMAP_INFO);
+    default:
+        return "invalid code";
+    }
+
+    #undef CASE
+};
+
+/*
+ * The actual processing done in virtio_snd_process_cmdq().
+ *
+ * @s: VirtIOSound device
+ * @cmd: control command request
+ */
+static inline void
+process_cmd(VirtIOSound *s, virtio_snd_ctrl_command *cmd)
+{
+    uint32_t code;
+    size_t msg_sz = iov_to_buf(cmd->elem->out_sg,
+                               cmd->elem->out_num,
+                               0,
+                               &cmd->ctrl,
+                               sizeof(cmd->ctrl));
+
+    if (msg_sz != sizeof(cmd->ctrl)) {
+        qemu_log_mask(LOG_GUEST_ERROR,
+                "%s: virtio-snd command size incorrect %zu vs \
+                %zu\n", __func__, msg_sz, sizeof(cmd->ctrl));
+        return;
+    }
+
+    code = le32_to_cpu(cmd->ctrl.code);
+
+    trace_virtio_snd_handle_code(code, print_code(code));
+
+    switch (code) {
+    case VIRTIO_SND_R_JACK_INFO:
+    case VIRTIO_SND_R_JACK_REMAP:
+        qemu_log_mask(LOG_UNIMP,
+                     "virtio_snd: jack functionality is unimplemented.\n");
+        cmd->resp.code = cpu_to_le32(VIRTIO_SND_S_NOT_SUPP);
+        break;
+    case VIRTIO_SND_R_PCM_INFO:
+    case VIRTIO_SND_R_PCM_SET_PARAMS:
+    case VIRTIO_SND_R_PCM_PREPARE:
+    case VIRTIO_SND_R_PCM_START:
+    case VIRTIO_SND_R_PCM_STOP:
+    case VIRTIO_SND_R_PCM_RELEASE:
+        cmd->resp.code = cpu_to_le32(VIRTIO_SND_S_NOT_SUPP);
+        break;
+    case VIRTIO_SND_R_CHMAP_INFO:
+        qemu_log_mask(LOG_UNIMP,
+                     "virtio_snd: chmap info functionality is unimplemented.\n");
+        trace_virtio_snd_handle_chmap_info();
+        cmd->resp.code = cpu_to_le32(VIRTIO_SND_S_NOT_SUPP);
+        break;
+    default:
+        /* error */
+        error_report("virtio snd header not recognized: %"PRIu32, code);
+        cmd->resp.code = cpu_to_le32(VIRTIO_SND_S_BAD_MSG);
+    }
+
+    iov_from_buf(cmd->elem->in_sg,
+                 cmd->elem->in_num,
+                 0,
+                 &cmd->resp,
+                 sizeof(cmd->resp));
+    virtqueue_push(cmd->vq, cmd->elem, sizeof(cmd->elem));
+    virtio_notify(VIRTIO_DEVICE(s), cmd->vq);
+}
+
+/*
+ * Consume all elements in command queue.
+ *
+ * @s: VirtIOSound device
+ */
+static void virtio_snd_process_cmdq(VirtIOSound *s)
+{
+    virtio_snd_ctrl_command *cmd;
+
+    if (unlikely(qatomic_read(&s->processing_cmdq))) {
+        return;
+    }
+
+    WITH_QEMU_LOCK_GUARD(&s->cmdq_mutex) {
+        qatomic_set(&s->processing_cmdq, true);
+        while (!QTAILQ_EMPTY(&s->cmdq)) {
+            cmd = QTAILQ_FIRST(&s->cmdq);
+
+            /* process command */
+            process_cmd(s, cmd);
+
+            QTAILQ_REMOVE(&s->cmdq, cmd, next);
+
+            virtio_snd_ctrl_cmd_free(cmd);
+        }
+        qatomic_set(&s->processing_cmdq, false);
+    }
+}
+
 /*
- * Queue handler stub.
+ * The control message handler. Pops an element from the control virtqueue,
+ * and stores them to VirtIOSound's cmdq queue and finally calls
+ * virtio_snd_process_cmdq() for processing.
+ *
+ * @vdev: VirtIOSound device
+ * @vq: Control virtqueue
+ */
+static void virtio_snd_handle_ctrl(VirtIODevice *vdev, VirtQueue *vq)
+{
+    VirtIOSound *s = VIRTIO_SND(vdev);
+    VirtQueueElement *elem;
+    virtio_snd_ctrl_command *cmd;
+
+    trace_virtio_snd_handle_ctrl(vdev, vq);
+
+    if (!virtio_queue_ready(vq)) {
+        return;
+    }
+
+    elem = virtqueue_pop(vq, sizeof(VirtQueueElement));
+    while (elem) {
+        cmd = g_new0(virtio_snd_ctrl_command, 1);
+        cmd->elem = elem;
+        cmd->vq = vq;
+        cmd->resp.code = cpu_to_le32(VIRTIO_SND_S_OK);
+        QTAILQ_INSERT_TAIL(&s->cmdq, cmd, next);
+        elem = virtqueue_pop(vq, sizeof(VirtQueueElement));
+    }
+
+    virtio_snd_process_cmdq(s);
+}
+
+/*
+ * The event virtqueue handler.
+ * Not implemented yet.
+ *
+ * @vdev: VirtIOSound device
+ * @vq: event vq
+ */
+static void virtio_snd_handle_event(VirtIODevice *vdev, VirtQueue *vq)
+{
+    qemu_log_mask(LOG_UNIMP, "virtio_snd: event queue is unimplemented.\n");
+    trace_virtio_snd_handle_event();
+}
+
+/*
+ * Stub buffer virtqueue handler.
  *
  * @vdev: VirtIOSound device
  * @vq: virtqueue
  */
-static void virtio_snd_handle_queue(VirtIODevice *vdev, VirtQueue *vq) {}
+static void virtio_snd_handle_xfer(VirtIODevice *vdev, VirtQueue *vq) {}
 
 static uint64_t get_features(VirtIODevice *vdev, uint64_t features,
                              Error **errp)
@@ -131,11 +299,17 @@ static void virtio_snd_realize(DeviceState *dev, Error **errp)
     VirtIOSound *vsnd = VIRTIO_SND(dev);
     VirtIODevice *vdev = VIRTIO_DEVICE(dev);
 
+    vsnd->pcm = NULL;
     vsnd->vmstate =
         qemu_add_vm_change_state_handler(virtio_snd_vm_state_change, vsnd);
 
     trace_virtio_snd_realize(vsnd);
 
+    vsnd->pcm = g_new0(VirtIOSoundPCM, 1);
+    vsnd->pcm->snd = vsnd;
+    vsnd->pcm->streams = g_new0(VirtIOSoundPCMStream *, vsnd->snd_conf.streams);
+    vsnd->pcm->pcm_params = g_new0(virtio_snd_pcm_set_params, vsnd->snd_conf.streams);
+
     virtio_init(vdev, VIRTIO_ID_SOUND, sizeof(virtio_snd_config));
     virtio_add_feature(&vsnd->features, VIRTIO_F_VERSION_1);
 
@@ -163,24 +337,53 @@ static void virtio_snd_realize(DeviceState *dev, Error **errp)
     AUD_register_card("virtio-sound", &vsnd->card);
 
     vsnd->queues[VIRTIO_SND_VQ_CONTROL] =
-        virtio_add_queue(vdev, 64, virtio_snd_handle_queue);
+        virtio_add_queue(vdev, 64, virtio_snd_handle_ctrl);
     vsnd->queues[VIRTIO_SND_VQ_EVENT] =
-        virtio_add_queue(vdev, 64, virtio_snd_handle_queue);
+        virtio_add_queue(vdev, 64, virtio_snd_handle_event);
     vsnd->queues[VIRTIO_SND_VQ_TX] =
-        virtio_add_queue(vdev, 64, virtio_snd_handle_queue);
+        virtio_add_queue(vdev, 64, virtio_snd_handle_xfer);
     vsnd->queues[VIRTIO_SND_VQ_RX] =
-        virtio_add_queue(vdev, 64, virtio_snd_handle_queue);
+        virtio_add_queue(vdev, 64, virtio_snd_handle_xfer);
+    qemu_mutex_init(&vsnd->cmdq_mutex);
+    QTAILQ_INIT(&vsnd->cmdq);
+}
+
+/*
+ * Close the stream and free its resources.
+ *
+ * @stream: VirtIOSoundPCMStream *stream
+ */
+static void virtio_snd_pcm_close(VirtIOSoundPCMStream *stream)
+{
 }
 
 static void virtio_snd_unrealize(DeviceState *dev)
 {
     VirtIODevice *vdev = VIRTIO_DEVICE(dev);
     VirtIOSound *vsnd = VIRTIO_SND(dev);
+    VirtIOSoundPCMStream *stream;
 
     qemu_del_vm_change_state_handler(vsnd->vmstate);
     trace_virtio_snd_unrealize(vsnd);
 
+    if (vsnd->pcm) {
+        if (vsnd->pcm->streams) {
+            for (uint32_t i = 0; i < vsnd->snd_conf.streams; i++) {
+                stream = vsnd->pcm->streams[i];
+                if (stream) {
+                    virtio_snd_process_cmdq(stream->s);
+                    virtio_snd_pcm_close(stream);
+                    g_free(stream);
+                }
+            }
+            g_free(vsnd->pcm->streams);
+        }
+        g_free(vsnd->pcm->pcm_params);
+        g_free(vsnd->pcm);
+        vsnd->pcm = NULL;
+    }
     AUD_remove_card(&vsnd->card);
+    qemu_mutex_destroy(&vsnd->cmdq_mutex);
     virtio_delete_queue(vsnd->queues[VIRTIO_SND_VQ_CONTROL]);
     virtio_delete_queue(vsnd->queues[VIRTIO_SND_VQ_EVENT]);
     virtio_delete_queue(vsnd->queues[VIRTIO_SND_VQ_TX]);
@@ -189,7 +392,19 @@ static void virtio_snd_unrealize(DeviceState *dev)
 }
 
 
-static void virtio_snd_reset(VirtIODevice *vdev) {}
+static void virtio_snd_reset(VirtIODevice *vdev)
+{
+    VirtIOSound *s = VIRTIO_SND(vdev);
+    virtio_snd_ctrl_command *cmd;
+
+    WITH_QEMU_LOCK_GUARD(&s->cmdq_mutex) {
+        while (!QTAILQ_EMPTY(&s->cmdq)) {
+            cmd = QTAILQ_FIRST(&s->cmdq);
+            QTAILQ_REMOVE(&s->cmdq, cmd, next);
+            virtio_snd_ctrl_cmd_free(cmd);
+        }
+    }
+}
 
 static void virtio_snd_class_init(ObjectClass *klass, void *data)
 {
diff --git a/include/hw/virtio/virtio-snd.h b/include/hw/virtio/virtio-snd.h
index 934e854a80..6642abb4e9 100644
--- a/include/hw/virtio/virtio-snd.h
+++ b/include/hw/virtio/virtio-snd.h
@@ -67,13 +67,116 @@ typedef struct virtio_snd_pcm_xfer virtio_snd_pcm_xfer;
 /* I/O request status */
 typedef struct virtio_snd_pcm_status virtio_snd_pcm_status;
 
-typedef struct VirtIOSound {
+/* device structs */
+
+typedef struct VirtIOSound VirtIOSound;
+
+typedef struct VirtIOSoundPCMStream VirtIOSoundPCMStream;
+
+typedef struct virtio_snd_ctrl_command virtio_snd_ctrl_command;
+
+typedef struct VirtIOSoundPCM VirtIOSoundPCM;
+
+struct VirtIOSoundPCM {
+    VirtIOSound *snd;
+    virtio_snd_pcm_set_params *pcm_params;
+    VirtIOSoundPCMStream **streams;
+};
+
+/*
+ * PCM stream state machine.
+ * -------------------------
+ *
+ * 5.14.6.6.1 PCM Command Lifecycle
+ * ================================
+ *
+ * A PCM stream has the following command lifecycle:
+ * - `SET PARAMETERS`
+ *   The driver negotiates the stream parameters (format, transport, etc) with
+ *   the device.
+ *   Possible valid transitions: `SET PARAMETERS`, `PREPARE`.
+ * - `PREPARE`
+ *   The device prepares the stream (allocates resources, etc).
+ *   Possible valid transitions: `SET PARAMETERS`, `PREPARE`, `START`,
+ *   `RELEASE`. Output only: the driver transfers data for pre-buffing.
+ * - `START`
+ *   The device starts the stream (unmute, putting into running state, etc).
+ *   Possible valid transitions: `STOP`.
+ *   The driver transfers data to/from the stream.
+ * - `STOP`
+ *   The device stops the stream (mute, putting into non-running state, etc).
+ *   Possible valid transitions: `START`, `RELEASE`.
+ * - `RELEASE`
+ *   The device releases the stream (frees resources, etc).
+ *   Possible valid transitions: `SET PARAMETERS`, `PREPARE`.
+ *
+ * +---------------+ +---------+ +---------+ +-------+ +-------+
+ * | SetParameters | | Prepare | | Release | | Start | | Stop  |
+ * +---------------+ +---------+ +---------+ +-------+ +-------+
+ *         |-             |           |          |         |
+ *         ||             |           |          |         |
+ *         |<             |           |          |         |
+ *         |------------->|           |          |         |
+ *         |<-------------|           |          |         |
+ *         |              |-          |          |         |
+ *         |              ||          |          |         |
+ *         |              |<          |          |         |
+ *         |              |--------------------->|         |
+ *         |              |---------->|          |         |
+ *         |              |           |          |-------->|
+ *         |              |           |          |<--------|
+ *         |              |           |<-------------------|
+ *         |<-------------------------|          |         |
+ *         |              |<----------|          |         |
+ *
+ * CTRL in the VirtIOSound device
+ * ==============================
+ *
+ * The control messages that affect the state of a stream arrive in the
+ * `virtio_snd_handle_ctrl()` queue callback and are of type `struct
+ * virtio_snd_ctrl_command`. They are stored in a queue field in the device
+ * type, `VirtIOSound`. This allows deferring the CTRL request completion if
+ * it's not immediately possible due to locking/state reasons.
+ *
+ * The CTRL message is finally handled in `process_cmd()`.
+ */
+struct VirtIOSoundPCMStream {
+    VirtIOSoundPCM *pcm;
+    virtio_snd_pcm_info info;
+    virtio_snd_pcm_set_params params;
+    uint32_t id;
+    /* channel position values (VIRTIO_SND_CHMAP_XXX) */
+    uint8_t positions[VIRTIO_SND_CHMAP_MAX_SIZE];
+    VirtIOSound *s;
+    bool flushing;
+    audsettings as;
+    union {
+        SWVoiceIn *in;
+        SWVoiceOut *out;
+    } voice;
+    QemuMutex queue_mutex;
+    QSIMPLEQ_HEAD(, VirtIOSoundPCMBlock) queue;
+};
+
+struct VirtIOSound {
     VirtIODevice parent_obj;
 
     VirtQueue *queues[VIRTIO_SND_VQ_MAX];
     uint64_t features;
+    VirtIOSoundPCM *pcm;
     QEMUSoundCard card;
     VMChangeStateEntry *vmstate;
     virtio_snd_config snd_conf;
-} VirtIOSound;
+    QemuMutex cmdq_mutex;
+    QTAILQ_HEAD(, virtio_snd_ctrl_command) cmdq;
+    bool processing_cmdq;
+};
+
+struct virtio_snd_ctrl_command {
+    VirtQueueElement *elem;
+    VirtQueue *vq;
+    virtio_snd_hdr ctrl;
+    virtio_snd_hdr resp;
+    QTAILQ_ENTRY(virtio_snd_ctrl_command) next;
+};
 #endif
