diff --git a/migration/ram.c b/migration/ram.c
index a60666d3f6..f0ddd5eabe 100644
--- a/migration/ram.c
+++ b/migration/ram.c
@@ -3283,9 +3283,16 @@ static int ram_save_complete(QEMUFile *f, void *opaque)
         }
     }
 
-    ret = multifd_ram_flush_and_sync();
-    if (ret < 0) {
-        return ret;
+    if (migrate_multifd() &&
+        migrate_multifd_flush_after_each_section()) {
+        /*
+         * Only the old dest QEMU will need this sync, because each EOS
+         * will require one SYNC message on each channel.
+         */
+        ret = multifd_ram_flush_and_sync();
+        if (ret < 0) {
+            return ret;
+        }
     }
 
     if (migrate_mapped_ram()) {