diff --git a/qerror.c b/qerror.c
index 3d179c87ea..8e6efafe00 100644
--- a/qerror.c
+++ b/qerror.c
@@ -47,6 +47,10 @@ static const QErrorStringTable qerror_table[] = {
         .error_fmt = QERR_ADD_CLIENT_FAILED,
         .desc      = "Could not add client",
     },
+    {
+        .error_fmt = QERR_AMBIGUOUS_PATH,
+        .desc      = "Path '%(path)' does not uniquely identify a %(object)"
+    },
     {
         .error_fmt = QERR_BAD_BUS_FOR_DEVICE,
         .desc      = "Device '%(device)' can't go on a %(bad_bus_type) bus",
diff --git a/qerror.h b/qerror.h
index 8c36ddb7e1..e8718bfbab 100644
--- a/qerror.h
+++ b/qerror.h
@@ -54,6 +54,9 @@ QError *qobject_to_qerror(const QObject *obj);
 #define QERR_ADD_CLIENT_FAILED \
     "{ 'class': 'AddClientFailed', 'data': {} }"
 
+#define QERR_AMBIGUOUS_PATH \
+    "{ 'class': 'AmbiguousPath', 'data': { 'path': %s } }"
+
 #define QERR_BAD_BUS_FOR_DEVICE \
     "{ 'class': 'BadBusForDevice', 'data': { 'device': %s, 'bad_bus_type': %s } }"
 
diff --git a/qom/object.c b/qom/object.c
index ea0efc662a..2bd15b81b2 100644
--- a/qom/object.c
+++ b/qom/object.c
@@ -840,6 +840,7 @@ static void object_set_link_property(Object *obj, Visitor *v, void *opaque,
     bool ambiguous = false;
     const char *type;
     char *path;
+    gchar *target_type;
 
     type = object_property_get_type(obj, name, NULL);
 
@@ -847,28 +848,30 @@ static void object_set_link_property(Object *obj, Visitor *v, void *opaque,
 
     if (*child) {
         object_unref(*child);
+        *child = NULL;
     }
 
     if (strcmp(path, "") != 0) {
         Object *target;
 
-        target = object_resolve_path(path, &ambiguous);
-        if (target) {
-            /* Go from link<FOO> to FOO.  */
-            gchar *target_type = g_strndup(&type[5], strlen(type) - 6);
-            if (object_dynamic_cast(target, target_type)) {
-                object_ref(target);
-                *child = target;
-            } else {
-                error_set(errp, QERR_INVALID_PARAMETER_TYPE, name, type);
-            }
+        /* Go from link<FOO> to FOO.  */
+        target_type = g_strndup(&type[5], strlen(type) - 6);
+        target = object_resolve_path_type(path, target_type, &ambiguous);
 
-            g_free(target_type);
+        if (ambiguous) {
+            error_set(errp, QERR_AMBIGUOUS_PATH, path);
+        } else if (target) {
+            object_ref(target);
+            *child = target;
         } else {
-            error_set(errp, QERR_DEVICE_NOT_FOUND, path);
+            target = object_resolve_path(path, &ambiguous);
+            if (target || ambiguous) {
+                error_set(errp, QERR_INVALID_PARAMETER_TYPE, name, target_type);
+            } else {
+                error_set(errp, QERR_DEVICE_NOT_FOUND, path);
+            }
         }
-    } else {
-        *child = NULL;
+        g_free(target_type);
     }
 
     g_free(path);