diff --git a/arch_init.c b/arch_init.c
index 38f5fb9c22..d1383b3c43 100644
--- a/arch_init.c
+++ b/arch_init.c
@@ -258,9 +258,7 @@ void do_acpitable_option(const QemuOpts *opts)
 
     acpi_table_add(opts, &err);
     if (err) {
-        error_report("Wrong acpi table provided: %s",
-                     error_get_pretty(err));
-        error_free(err);
+        error_reportf_err(err, "Wrong acpi table provided: ");
         exit(1);
     }
 #endif
diff --git a/audio/audio.c b/audio/audio.c
index 5be4b15fcf..a0fc8b31ae 100644
--- a/audio/audio.c
+++ b/audio/audio.c
@@ -1806,9 +1806,6 @@ static void audio_init (void)
     atexit (audio_atexit);
 
     s->ts = timer_new_ns(QEMU_CLOCK_VIRTUAL, audio_timer, s);
-    if (!s->ts) {
-        hw_error("Could not create audio timer\n");
-    }
 
     audio_process_options ("AUDIO", audio_options);
 
@@ -1859,12 +1856,8 @@ static void audio_init (void)
 
     if (!done) {
         done = !audio_driver_init (s, &no_audio_driver);
-        if (!done) {
-            hw_error("Could not initialize audio subsystem\n");
-        }
-        else {
-            dolog ("warning: Using timer based audio emulation\n");
-        }
+        assert(done);
+        dolog("warning: Using timer based audio emulation\n");
     }
 
     if (conf.period.hertz <= 0) {
diff --git a/block.c b/block.c
index 01655ded13..54c37f9629 100644
--- a/block.c
+++ b/block.c
@@ -1349,12 +1349,10 @@ int bdrv_open_backing_file(BlockDriverState *bs, QDict *parent_options,
     ret = bdrv_open_inherit(&backing_hd,
                             *backing_filename ? backing_filename : NULL,
                             reference, options, 0, bs, &child_backing,
-                            &local_err);
+                            errp);
     if (ret < 0) {
         bs->open_flags |= BDRV_O_NO_BACKING;
-        error_setg(errp, "Could not open backing file: %s",
-                   error_get_pretty(local_err));
-        error_free(local_err);
+        error_prepend(errp, "Could not open backing file: ");
         goto free_exit;
     }
 
@@ -1460,13 +1458,11 @@ int bdrv_append_temp_snapshot(BlockDriverState *bs, int flags, Error **errp)
     opts = qemu_opts_create(bdrv_qcow2.create_opts, NULL, 0,
                             &error_abort);
     qemu_opt_set_number(opts, BLOCK_OPT_SIZE, total_size, &error_abort);
-    ret = bdrv_create(&bdrv_qcow2, tmp_filename, opts, &local_err);
+    ret = bdrv_create(&bdrv_qcow2, tmp_filename, opts, errp);
     qemu_opts_del(opts);
     if (ret < 0) {
-        error_setg_errno(errp, -ret, "Could not create temporary overlay "
-                         "'%s': %s", tmp_filename,
-                         error_get_pretty(local_err));
-        error_free(local_err);
+        error_prepend(errp, "Could not create temporary overlay '%s': ",
+                      tmp_filename);
         goto out;
     }
 
@@ -3730,9 +3726,9 @@ bool bdrv_op_is_blocked(BlockDriverState *bs, BlockOpType op, Error **errp)
     if (!QLIST_EMPTY(&bs->op_blockers[op])) {
         blocker = QLIST_FIRST(&bs->op_blockers[op]);
         if (errp) {
-            error_setg(errp, "Node '%s' is busy: %s",
-                       bdrv_get_device_or_node_name(bs),
-                       error_get_pretty(blocker->reason));
+            *errp = error_copy(blocker->reason);
+            error_prepend(errp, "Node '%s' is busy: ",
+                          bdrv_get_device_or_node_name(bs));
         }
         return true;
     }
diff --git a/block/qcow2.c b/block/qcow2.c
index 1789af43d2..d992e7fac7 100644
--- a/block/qcow2.c
+++ b/block/qcow2.c
@@ -1762,9 +1762,8 @@ static void qcow2_invalidate_cache(BlockDriverState *bs, Error **errp)
     ret = qcow2_open(bs, options, flags, &local_err);
     QDECREF(options);
     if (local_err) {
-        error_setg(errp, "Could not reopen qcow2 layer: %s",
-                   error_get_pretty(local_err));
-        error_free(local_err);
+        error_propagate(errp, local_err);
+        error_prepend(errp, "Could not reopen qcow2 layer: ");
         return;
     } else if (ret < 0) {
         error_setg_errno(errp, -ret, "Could not reopen qcow2 layer");
diff --git a/block/qed.c b/block/qed.c
index 9b88895038..31f4cc9e60 100644
--- a/block/qed.c
+++ b/block/qed.c
@@ -1611,9 +1611,8 @@ static void bdrv_qed_invalidate_cache(BlockDriverState *bs, Error **errp)
     memset(s, 0, sizeof(BDRVQEDState));
     ret = bdrv_qed_open(bs, NULL, bs->open_flags, &local_err);
     if (local_err) {
-        error_setg(errp, "Could not reopen qed layer: %s",
-                   error_get_pretty(local_err));
-        error_free(local_err);
+        error_propagate(errp, local_err);
+        error_prepend(errp, "Could not reopen qed layer: ");
         return;
     } else if (ret < 0) {
         error_setg_errno(errp, -ret, "Could not reopen qed layer");
diff --git a/block/sheepdog.c b/block/sheepdog.c
index d80e4ed18d..6986be8151 100644
--- a/block/sheepdog.c
+++ b/block/sheepdog.c
@@ -1861,8 +1861,7 @@ static int sd_create(const char *filename, QemuOpts *opts,
 
         fd = connect_to_sdog(s, &local_err);
         if (fd < 0) {
-            error_report("%s", error_get_pretty(local_err));
-            error_free(local_err);
+            error_report_err(local_err);
             ret = -EIO;
             goto out;
         }
@@ -2406,9 +2405,8 @@ static int sd_snapshot_create(BlockDriverState *bs, QEMUSnapshotInfo *sn_info)
 
     ret = do_sd_create(s, &new_vid, 1, &local_err);
     if (ret < 0) {
-        error_report("failed to create inode for snapshot: %s",
-                     error_get_pretty(local_err));
-        error_free(local_err);
+        error_reportf_err(local_err,
+                          "failed to create inode for snapshot: ");
         goto cleanup;
     }
 
diff --git a/block/vhdx-log.c b/block/vhdx-log.c
index 47ae4b1351..ab86416def 100644
--- a/block/vhdx-log.c
+++ b/block/vhdx-log.c
@@ -784,12 +784,13 @@ int vhdx_parse_log(BlockDriverState *bs, BDRVVHDXState *s, bool *flushed,
     if (logs.valid) {
         if (bs->read_only) {
             ret = -EPERM;
-            error_setg_errno(errp, EPERM,
-                             "VHDX image file '%s' opened read-only, but "
-                             "contains a log that needs to be replayed.  To "
-                             "replay the log, execute:\n qemu-img check -r "
-                             "all '%s'",
-                             bs->filename, bs->filename);
+            error_setg(errp,
+                       "VHDX image file '%s' opened read-only, but "
+                       "contains a log that needs to be replayed",
+                       bs->filename);
+            error_append_hint(errp,  "To replay the log, run:\n"
+                              "qemu-img check -r all '%s'\n",
+                              bs->filename);
             goto exit;
         }
         /* now flush the log */
diff --git a/block/vmdk.c b/block/vmdk.c
index 6f819e413f..2b5cb00ef1 100644
--- a/block/vmdk.c
+++ b/block/vmdk.c
@@ -760,6 +760,17 @@ static int vmdk_open_sparse(BlockDriverState *bs, BdrvChild *file, int flags,
     }
 }
 
+static const char *next_line(const char *s)
+{
+    while (*s) {
+        if (*s == '\n') {
+            return s + 1;
+        }
+        s++;
+    }
+    return s;
+}
+
 static int vmdk_parse_extents(const char *desc, BlockDriverState *bs,
                               const char *desc_file_path, QDict *options,
                               Error **errp)
@@ -769,7 +780,7 @@ static int vmdk_parse_extents(const char *desc, BlockDriverState *bs,
     char access[11];
     char type[11];
     char fname[512];
-    const char *p = desc;
+    const char *p, *np;
     int64_t sectors = 0;
     int64_t flat_offset;
     char *extent_path;
@@ -779,7 +790,7 @@ static int vmdk_parse_extents(const char *desc, BlockDriverState *bs,
     char extent_opt_prefix[32];
     Error *local_err = NULL;
 
-    while (*p) {
+    for (p = desc; *p; p = next_line(p)) {
         /* parse extent line in one of below formats:
          *
          * RW [size in sectors] FLAT "file-name.vmdk" OFFSET
@@ -791,29 +802,26 @@ static int vmdk_parse_extents(const char *desc, BlockDriverState *bs,
         matches = sscanf(p, "%10s %" SCNd64 " %10s \"%511[^\n\r\"]\" %" SCNd64,
                          access, &sectors, type, fname, &flat_offset);
         if (matches < 4 || strcmp(access, "RW")) {
-            goto next_line;
+            continue;
         } else if (!strcmp(type, "FLAT")) {
             if (matches != 5 || flat_offset < 0) {
-                error_setg(errp, "Invalid extent lines: \n%s", p);
-                return -EINVAL;
+                goto invalid;
             }
         } else if (!strcmp(type, "VMFS")) {
             if (matches == 4) {
                 flat_offset = 0;
             } else {
-                error_setg(errp, "Invalid extent lines:\n%s", p);
-                return -EINVAL;
+                goto invalid;
             }
         } else if (matches != 4) {
-            error_setg(errp, "Invalid extent lines:\n%s", p);
-            return -EINVAL;
+            goto invalid;
         }
 
         if (sectors <= 0 ||
             (strcmp(type, "FLAT") && strcmp(type, "SPARSE") &&
              strcmp(type, "VMFS") && strcmp(type, "VMFSSPARSE")) ||
             (strcmp(access, "RW"))) {
-            goto next_line;
+            continue;
         }
 
         if (!path_is_absolute(fname) && !path_has_protocol(fname) &&
@@ -870,17 +878,17 @@ static int vmdk_parse_extents(const char *desc, BlockDriverState *bs,
             return -ENOTSUP;
         }
         extent->type = g_strdup(type);
-next_line:
-        /* move to next line */
-        while (*p) {
-            if (*p == '\n') {
-                p++;
-                break;
-            }
-            p++;
-        }
     }
     return 0;
+
+invalid:
+    np = next_line(p);
+    assert(np != p);
+    if (np[-1] == '\n') {
+        np--;
+    }
+    error_setg(errp, "Invalid extent line: %.*s", (int)(np - p), p);
+    return -EINVAL;
 }
 
 static int vmdk_open_desc_file(BlockDriverState *bs, int flags, char *buf,
@@ -1494,8 +1502,8 @@ static int vmdk_write(BlockDriverState *bs, int64_t sector_num,
 
     if (sector_num > bs->total_sectors) {
         error_report("Wrong offset: sector_num=0x%" PRIx64
-                " total_sectors=0x%" PRIx64 "\n",
-                sector_num, bs->total_sectors);
+                     " total_sectors=0x%" PRIx64,
+                     sector_num, bs->total_sectors);
         return -EIO;
     }
 
diff --git a/blockdev.c b/blockdev.c
index 2df0c6d366..1392fffaaa 100644
--- a/blockdev.c
+++ b/blockdev.c
@@ -1582,13 +1582,11 @@ static void internal_snapshot_abort(BlkActionState *common)
     }
 
     if (bdrv_snapshot_delete(bs, sn->id_str, sn->name, &local_error) < 0) {
-        error_report("Failed to delete snapshot with id '%s' and name '%s' on "
-                     "device '%s' in abort: %s",
-                     sn->id_str,
-                     sn->name,
-                     bdrv_get_device_name(bs),
-                     error_get_pretty(local_error));
-        error_free(local_error);
+        error_reportf_err(local_error,
+                          "Failed to delete snapshot with id '%s' and "
+                          "name '%s' on device '%s' in abort: ",
+                          sn->id_str, sn->name,
+                          bdrv_get_device_name(bs));
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/contrib/ivshmem-server/main.c b/contrib/ivshmem-server/main.c
index 54ff001c23..9b0d6e2319 100644
--- a/contrib/ivshmem-server/main.c
+++ b/contrib/ivshmem-server/main.c
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ ivshmem_server_parse_args(IvshmemServerArgs *args, int argc, char *argv[])
 {
     int c;
     unsigned long long v;
-    Error *errp = NULL;
+    Error *err = NULL;
 
     while ((c = getopt(argc, argv,
                        "h"  /* help */
@@ -104,11 +104,9 @@ ivshmem_server_parse_args(IvshmemServerArgs *args, int argc, char *argv[])
             break;
 
         case 'l': /* shm_size */
-            parse_option_size("shm_size", optarg, &args->shm_size, &errp);
-            if (errp) {
-                fprintf(stderr, "cannot parse shm size: %s\n",
-                        error_get_pretty(errp));
-                error_free(errp);
+            parse_option_size("shm_size", optarg, &args->shm_size, &err);
+            if (err) {
+                error_report_err(err);
                 ivshmem_server_usage(argv[0], 1);
             }
             break;
diff --git a/hmp.c b/hmp.c
index c2b2c161c8..54f2620690 100644
--- a/hmp.c
+++ b/hmp.c
@@ -41,8 +41,7 @@ static void hmp_handle_error(Monitor *mon, Error **errp)
 {
     assert(errp);
     if (*errp) {
-        monitor_printf(mon, "%s\n", error_get_pretty(*errp));
-        error_free(*errp);
+        error_report_err(*errp);
     }
 }
 
@@ -556,8 +555,7 @@ void hmp_info_vnc(Monitor *mon, const QDict *qdict)
 
     info = qmp_query_vnc(&err);
     if (err) {
-        monitor_printf(mon, "%s\n", error_get_pretty(err));
-        error_free(err);
+        error_report_err(err);
         return;
     }
 
@@ -679,8 +677,7 @@ void hmp_info_balloon(Monitor *mon, const QDict *qdict)
 
     info = qmp_query_balloon(&err);
     if (err) {
-        monitor_printf(mon, "%s\n", error_get_pretty(err));
-        error_free(err);
+        error_report_err(err);
         return;
     }
 
@@ -948,8 +945,7 @@ void hmp_ringbuf_read(Monitor *mon, const QDict *qdict)
 
     data = qmp_ringbuf_read(chardev, size, false, 0, &err);
     if (err) {
-        monitor_printf(mon, "%s\n", error_get_pretty(err));
-        error_free(err);
+        error_report_err(err);
         return;
     }
 
@@ -1042,8 +1038,7 @@ void hmp_balloon(Monitor *mon, const QDict *qdict)
 
     qmp_balloon(value, &err);
     if (err) {
-        monitor_printf(mon, "balloon: %s\n", error_get_pretty(err));
-        error_free(err);
+        error_report_err(err);
     }
 }
 
@@ -1191,8 +1186,7 @@ void hmp_migrate_set_cache_size(Monitor *mon, const QDict *qdict)
 
     qmp_migrate_set_cache_size(value, &err);
     if (err) {
-        monitor_printf(mon, "%s\n", error_get_pretty(err));
-        error_free(err);
+        error_report_err(err);
         return;
     }
 }
@@ -1229,9 +1223,7 @@ void hmp_migrate_set_capability(Monitor *mon, const QDict *qdict)
     qapi_free_MigrationCapabilityStatusList(caps);
 
     if (err) {
-        monitor_printf(mon, "migrate_set_capability: %s\n",
-                       error_get_pretty(err));
-        error_free(err);
+        error_report_err(err);
     }
 }
 
@@ -1281,9 +1273,7 @@ void hmp_migrate_set_parameter(Monitor *mon, const QDict *qdict)
     }
 
     if (err) {
-        monitor_printf(mon, "migrate_set_parameter: %s\n",
-                       error_get_pretty(err));
-        error_free(err);
+        error_report_err(err);
     }
 }
 
@@ -1544,8 +1534,7 @@ void hmp_migrate(Monitor *mon, const QDict *qdict)
 
     qmp_migrate(uri, !!blk, blk, !!inc, inc, false, false, &err);
     if (err) {
-        monitor_printf(mon, "migrate: %s\n", error_get_pretty(err));
-        error_free(err);
+        error_report_err(err);
         return;
     }
 
@@ -2089,11 +2078,11 @@ void hmp_rocker(Monitor *mon, const QDict *qdict)
 {
     const char *name = qdict_get_str(qdict, "name");
     RockerSwitch *rocker;
-    Error *errp = NULL;
+    Error *err = NULL;
 
-    rocker = qmp_query_rocker(name, &errp);
-    if (errp != NULL) {
-        hmp_handle_error(mon, &errp);
+    rocker = qmp_query_rocker(name, &err);
+    if (err != NULL) {
+        hmp_handle_error(mon, &err);
         return;
     }
 
@@ -2108,11 +2097,11 @@ void hmp_rocker_ports(Monitor *mon, const QDict *qdict)
 {
     RockerPortList *list, *port;
     const char *name = qdict_get_str(qdict, "name");
-    Error *errp = NULL;
+    Error *err = NULL;
 
-    list = qmp_query_rocker_ports(name, &errp);
-    if (errp != NULL) {
-        hmp_handle_error(mon, &errp);
+    list = qmp_query_rocker_ports(name, &err);
+    if (err != NULL) {
+        hmp_handle_error(mon, &err);
         return;
     }
 
@@ -2137,11 +2126,11 @@ void hmp_rocker_of_dpa_flows(Monitor *mon, const QDict *qdict)
     RockerOfDpaFlowList *list, *info;
     const char *name = qdict_get_str(qdict, "name");
     uint32_t tbl_id = qdict_get_try_int(qdict, "tbl_id", -1);
-    Error *errp = NULL;
+    Error *err = NULL;
 
-    list = qmp_query_rocker_of_dpa_flows(name, tbl_id != -1, tbl_id, &errp);
-    if (errp != NULL) {
-        hmp_handle_error(mon, &errp);
+    list = qmp_query_rocker_of_dpa_flows(name, tbl_id != -1, tbl_id, &err);
+    if (err != NULL) {
+        hmp_handle_error(mon, &err);
         return;
     }
 
@@ -2287,12 +2276,12 @@ void hmp_rocker_of_dpa_groups(Monitor *mon, const QDict *qdict)
     RockerOfDpaGroupList *list, *g;
     const char *name = qdict_get_str(qdict, "name");
     uint8_t type = qdict_get_try_int(qdict, "type", 9);
-    Error *errp = NULL;
+    Error *err = NULL;
     bool set = false;
 
-    list = qmp_query_rocker_of_dpa_groups(name, type != 9, type, &errp);
-    if (errp != NULL) {
-        hmp_handle_error(mon, &errp);
+    list = qmp_query_rocker_of_dpa_groups(name, type != 9, type, &err);
+    if (err != NULL) {
+        hmp_handle_error(mon, &err);
         return;
     }
 
diff --git a/hw/alpha/dp264.c b/hw/alpha/dp264.c
index 27bdaa1ad6..38b85bafe5 100644
--- a/hw/alpha/dp264.c
+++ b/hw/alpha/dp264.c
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
 #include "hw/loader.h"
 #include "hw/boards.h"
 #include "alpha_sys.h"
+#include "qemu/error-report.h"
 #include "sysemu/sysemu.h"
 #include "hw/timer/mc146818rtc.h"
 #include "hw/ide.h"
@@ -104,14 +105,14 @@ static void clipper_init(MachineState *machine)
     palcode_filename = qemu_find_file(QEMU_FILE_TYPE_BIOS,
                                 bios_name ? bios_name : "palcode-clipper");
     if (palcode_filename == NULL) {
-        hw_error("no palcode provided\n");
+        error_report("no palcode provided");
         exit(1);
     }
     size = load_elf(palcode_filename, cpu_alpha_superpage_to_phys,
                     NULL, &palcode_entry, &palcode_low, &palcode_high,
                     0, EM_ALPHA, 0);
     if (size < 0) {
-        hw_error("could not load palcode '%s'\n", palcode_filename);
+        error_report("could not load palcode '%s'", palcode_filename);
         exit(1);
     }
     g_free(palcode_filename);
@@ -131,7 +132,7 @@ static void clipper_init(MachineState *machine)
                         NULL, &kernel_entry, &kernel_low, &kernel_high,
                         0, EM_ALPHA, 0);
         if (size < 0) {
-            hw_error("could not load kernel '%s'\n", kernel_filename);
+            error_report("could not load kernel '%s'", kernel_filename);
             exit(1);
         }
 
@@ -148,8 +149,8 @@ static void clipper_init(MachineState *machine)
 
             initrd_size = get_image_size(initrd_filename);
             if (initrd_size < 0) {
-                hw_error("could not load initial ram disk '%s'\n",
-                         initrd_filename);
+                error_report("could not load initial ram disk '%s'",
+                             initrd_filename);
                 exit(1);
             }
 
diff --git a/hw/alpha/typhoon.c b/hw/alpha/typhoon.c
index 421162e1d4..35dc8a5b47 100644
--- a/hw/alpha/typhoon.c
+++ b/hw/alpha/typhoon.c
@@ -920,7 +920,8 @@ PCIBus *typhoon_init(ram_addr_t ram_size, ISABus **isa_bus,
     {
         qemu_irq *isa_irqs;
 
-        *isa_bus = isa_bus_new(NULL, get_system_memory(), &s->pchip.reg_io);
+        *isa_bus = isa_bus_new(NULL, get_system_memory(), &s->pchip.reg_io,
+                               &error_abort);
         isa_irqs = i8259_init(*isa_bus,
                               qemu_allocate_irq(typhoon_set_isa_irq, s, 0));
         isa_bus_irqs(*isa_bus, isa_irqs);
diff --git a/hw/arm/cubieboard.c b/hw/arm/cubieboard.c
index bf068cd3cc..a71e43cf5f 100644
--- a/hw/arm/cubieboard.c
+++ b/hw/arm/cubieboard.c
@@ -39,27 +39,26 @@ static void cubieboard_init(MachineState *machine)
 
     object_property_set_int(OBJECT(&s->a10->emac), 1, "phy-addr", &err);
     if (err != NULL) {
-        error_report("Couldn't set phy address: %s", error_get_pretty(err));
+        error_reportf_err(err, "Couldn't set phy address: ");
         exit(1);
     }
 
     object_property_set_int(OBJECT(&s->a10->timer), 32768, "clk0-freq", &err);
     if (err != NULL) {
-        error_report("Couldn't set clk0 frequency: %s", error_get_pretty(err));
+        error_reportf_err(err, "Couldn't set clk0 frequency: ");
         exit(1);
     }
 
     object_property_set_int(OBJECT(&s->a10->timer), 24000000, "clk1-freq",
                             &err);
     if (err != NULL) {
-        error_report("Couldn't set clk1 frequency: %s", error_get_pretty(err));
+        error_reportf_err(err, "Couldn't set clk1 frequency: ");
         exit(1);
     }
 
     object_property_set_bool(OBJECT(s->a10), true, "realized", &err);
     if (err != NULL) {
-        error_report("Couldn't realize Allwinner A10: %s",
-                     error_get_pretty(err));
+        error_reportf_err(err, "Couldn't realize Allwinner A10: ");
         exit(1);
     }
 
diff --git a/hw/arm/digic_boards.c b/hw/arm/digic_boards.c
index 710045adca..dfaed257f5 100644
--- a/hw/arm/digic_boards.c
+++ b/hw/arm/digic_boards.c
@@ -64,8 +64,7 @@ static void digic4_board_init(DigicBoard *board)
     s->digic = DIGIC(object_new(TYPE_DIGIC));
     object_property_set_bool(OBJECT(s->digic), true, "realized", &err);
     if (err != NULL) {
-        error_report("Couldn't realize DIGIC SoC: %s",
-                     error_get_pretty(err));
+        error_reportf_err(err, "Couldn't realize DIGIC SoC: ");
         exit(1);
     }
 
diff --git a/hw/arm/exynos4210.c b/hw/arm/exynos4210.c
index d934980efa..79b7c5ab3d 100644
--- a/hw/arm/exynos4210.c
+++ b/hw/arm/exynos4210.c
@@ -150,27 +150,18 @@ Exynos4210State *exynos4210_init(MemoryRegion *system_mem,
 
     for (n = 0; n < EXYNOS4210_NCPUS; n++) {
         Object *cpuobj = object_new(object_class_get_name(cpu_oc));
-        Error *err = NULL;
 
         /* By default A9 CPUs have EL3 enabled.  This board does not currently
          * support EL3 so the CPU EL3 property is disabled before realization.
          */
         if (object_property_find(cpuobj, "has_el3", NULL)) {
-            object_property_set_bool(cpuobj, false, "has_el3", &err);
-            if (err) {
-                error_report_err(err);
-                exit(1);
-            }
+            object_property_set_bool(cpuobj, false, "has_el3", &error_fatal);
         }
 
         s->cpu[n] = ARM_CPU(cpuobj);
         object_property_set_int(cpuobj, EXYNOS4210_SMP_PRIVATE_BASE_ADDR,
                                 "reset-cbar", &error_abort);
-        object_property_set_bool(cpuobj, true, "realized", &err);
-        if (err) {
-            error_report_err(err);
-            exit(1);
-        }
+        object_property_set_bool(cpuobj, true, "realized", &error_fatal);
     }
 
     /*** IRQs ***/
diff --git a/hw/arm/highbank.c b/hw/arm/highbank.c
index 85ae69efd9..cb9926e50f 100644
--- a/hw/arm/highbank.c
+++ b/hw/arm/highbank.c
@@ -279,7 +279,6 @@ static void calxeda_init(MachineState *machine, enum cxmachines machine_id)
         ObjectClass *oc = cpu_class_by_name(TYPE_ARM_CPU, cpu_model);
         Object *cpuobj;
         ARMCPU *cpu;
-        Error *err = NULL;
 
         cpuobj = object_new(object_class_get_name(oc));
         cpu = ARM_CPU(cpuobj);
@@ -297,11 +296,7 @@ static void calxeda_init(MachineState *machine, enum cxmachines machine_id)
             object_property_set_int(cpuobj, MPCORE_PERIPHBASE,
                                     "reset-cbar", &error_abort);
         }
-        object_property_set_bool(cpuobj, true, "realized", &err);
-        if (err) {
-            error_report_err(err);
-            exit(1);
-        }
+        object_property_set_bool(cpuobj, true, "realized", &error_fatal);
         cpu_irq[n] = qdev_get_gpio_in(DEVICE(cpu), ARM_CPU_IRQ);
         cpu_fiq[n] = qdev_get_gpio_in(DEVICE(cpu), ARM_CPU_FIQ);
     }
@@ -320,11 +315,13 @@ static void calxeda_init(MachineState *machine, enum cxmachines machine_id)
         sysboot_filename = qemu_find_file(QEMU_FILE_TYPE_BIOS, bios_name);
         if (sysboot_filename != NULL) {
             if (load_image_targphys(sysboot_filename, 0xfff88000, 0x8000) < 0) {
-                hw_error("Unable to load %s\n", bios_name);
+                error_report("Unable to load %s", bios_name);
+                exit(1);
             }
             g_free(sysboot_filename);
         } else {
-           hw_error("Unable to find %s\n", bios_name);
+            error_report("Unable to find %s", bios_name);
+            exit(1);
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/hw/arm/imx25_pdk.c b/hw/arm/imx25_pdk.c
index 59a4c11277..039f0ebdb8 100644
--- a/hw/arm/imx25_pdk.c
+++ b/hw/arm/imx25_pdk.c
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ static void imx25_pdk_init(MachineState *machine)
 
     object_property_set_bool(OBJECT(&s->soc), true, "realized", &err);
     if (err != NULL) {
-        error_report("%s", error_get_pretty(err));
+        error_report_err(err);
         exit(1);
     }
 
diff --git a/hw/arm/integratorcp.c b/hw/arm/integratorcp.c
index 421bde9a1c..96dedce906 100644
--- a/hw/arm/integratorcp.c
+++ b/hw/arm/integratorcp.c
@@ -533,7 +533,6 @@ static void integratorcp_init(MachineState *machine)
     qemu_irq pic[32];
     DeviceState *dev, *sic, *icp;
     int i;
-    Error *err = NULL;
 
     if (!cpu_model) {
         cpu_model = "arm926";
@@ -552,18 +551,10 @@ static void integratorcp_init(MachineState *machine)
      * realization.
      */
     if (object_property_find(cpuobj, "has_el3", NULL)) {
-        object_property_set_bool(cpuobj, false, "has_el3", &err);
-        if (err) {
-            error_report_err(err);
-            exit(1);
-        }
+        object_property_set_bool(cpuobj, false, "has_el3", &error_fatal);
     }
 
-    object_property_set_bool(cpuobj, true, "realized", &err);
-    if (err) {
-        error_report_err(err);
-        exit(1);
-    }
+    object_property_set_bool(cpuobj, true, "realized", &error_fatal);
 
     cpu = ARM_CPU(cpuobj);
 
diff --git a/hw/arm/kzm.c b/hw/arm/kzm.c
index eff6f4681d..f4b463aa1e 100644
--- a/hw/arm/kzm.c
+++ b/hw/arm/kzm.c
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ static void kzm_init(MachineState *machine)
 
     object_property_set_bool(OBJECT(&s->soc), true, "realized", &err);
     if (err != NULL) {
-        error_report("%s", error_get_pretty(err));
+        error_report_err(err);
         exit(1);
     }
 
diff --git a/hw/arm/netduino2.c b/hw/arm/netduino2.c
index a3b9e82ff4..3ab83a1acd 100644
--- a/hw/arm/netduino2.c
+++ b/hw/arm/netduino2.c
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ static void netduino2_init(MachineState *machine)
     qdev_prop_set_string(dev, "cpu-model", "cortex-m3");
     object_property_set_bool(OBJECT(dev), true, "realized", &err);
     if (err != NULL) {
-        error_report("%s", error_get_pretty(err));
+        error_report_err(err);
         exit(1);
     }
 }
diff --git a/hw/arm/nseries.c b/hw/arm/nseries.c
index 2a8835ec01..57170aea8b 100644
--- a/hw/arm/nseries.c
+++ b/hw/arm/nseries.c
@@ -172,8 +172,8 @@ static void n8x0_nand_setup(struct n800_s *s)
     qdev_prop_set_int32(s->nand, "shift", 1);
     dinfo = drive_get(IF_MTD, 0, 0);
     if (dinfo) {
-        qdev_prop_set_drive_nofail(s->nand, "drive",
-                                   blk_by_legacy_dinfo(dinfo));
+        qdev_prop_set_drive(s->nand, "drive", blk_by_legacy_dinfo(dinfo),
+                            &error_fatal);
     }
     qdev_init_nofail(s->nand);
     sysbus_connect_irq(SYS_BUS_DEVICE(s->nand), 0,
diff --git a/hw/arm/realview.c b/hw/arm/realview.c
index e14828db0d..2d6952c393 100644
--- a/hw/arm/realview.c
+++ b/hw/arm/realview.c
@@ -99,33 +99,21 @@ static void realview_init(MachineState *machine,
 
     for (n = 0; n < smp_cpus; n++) {
         Object *cpuobj = object_new(object_class_get_name(cpu_oc));
-        Error *err = NULL;
 
         /* By default A9,A15 and ARM1176 CPUs have EL3 enabled.  This board
          * does not currently support EL3 so the CPU EL3 property is disabled
          * before realization.
          */
         if (object_property_find(cpuobj, "has_el3", NULL)) {
-            object_property_set_bool(cpuobj, false, "has_el3", &err);
-            if (err) {
-                error_report_err(err);
-                exit(1);
-            }
+            object_property_set_bool(cpuobj, false, "has_el3", &error_fatal);
         }
 
         if (is_pb && is_mpcore) {
-            object_property_set_int(cpuobj, periphbase, "reset-cbar", &err);
-            if (err) {
-                error_report_err(err);
-                exit(1);
-            }
+            object_property_set_int(cpuobj, periphbase, "reset-cbar",
+                                    &error_fatal);
         }
 
-        object_property_set_bool(cpuobj, true, "realized", &err);
-        if (err) {
-            error_report_err(err);
-            exit(1);
-        }
+        object_property_set_bool(cpuobj, true, "realized", &error_fatal);
 
         cpu_irq[n] = qdev_get_gpio_in(DEVICE(cpuobj), ARM_CPU_IRQ);
     }
diff --git a/hw/arm/versatilepb.c b/hw/arm/versatilepb.c
index 912c2908f3..70eefe9987 100644
--- a/hw/arm/versatilepb.c
+++ b/hw/arm/versatilepb.c
@@ -192,7 +192,6 @@ static void versatile_init(MachineState *machine, int board_id)
     int n;
     int done_smc = 0;
     DriveInfo *dinfo;
-    Error *err = NULL;
 
     if (!machine->cpu_model) {
         machine->cpu_model = "arm926";
@@ -211,18 +210,10 @@ static void versatile_init(MachineState *machine, int board_id)
      * realization.
      */
     if (object_property_find(cpuobj, "has_el3", NULL)) {
-        object_property_set_bool(cpuobj, false, "has_el3", &err);
-        if (err) {
-            error_report_err(err);
-            exit(1);
-        }
+        object_property_set_bool(cpuobj, false, "has_el3", &error_fatal);
     }
 
-    object_property_set_bool(cpuobj, true, "realized", &err);
-    if (err) {
-        error_report_err(err);
-        exit(1);
-    }
+    object_property_set_bool(cpuobj, true, "realized", &error_fatal);
 
     cpu = ARM_CPU(cpuobj);
 
diff --git a/hw/arm/vexpress.c b/hw/arm/vexpress.c
index 058abbde3f..ea9a9840d0 100644
--- a/hw/arm/vexpress.c
+++ b/hw/arm/vexpress.c
@@ -211,7 +211,6 @@ static void init_cpus(const char *cpu_model, const char *privdev,
     /* Create the actual CPUs */
     for (n = 0; n < smp_cpus; n++) {
         Object *cpuobj = object_new(object_class_get_name(cpu_oc));
-        Error *err = NULL;
 
         if (!secure) {
             object_property_set_bool(cpuobj, false, "has_el3", NULL);
@@ -221,11 +220,7 @@ static void init_cpus(const char *cpu_model, const char *privdev,
             object_property_set_int(cpuobj, periphbase,
                                     "reset-cbar", &error_abort);
         }
-        object_property_set_bool(cpuobj, true, "realized", &err);
-        if (err) {
-            error_report_err(err);
-            exit(1);
-        }
+        object_property_set_bool(cpuobj, true, "realized", &error_fatal);
     }
 
     /* Create the private peripheral devices (including the GIC);
diff --git a/hw/arm/virt.c b/hw/arm/virt.c
index fd52b76882..92dcd02119 100644
--- a/hw/arm/virt.c
+++ b/hw/arm/virt.c
@@ -1200,9 +1200,8 @@ static void virt_set_gic_version(Object *obj, const char *value, Error **errp)
     } else if (!strcmp(value, "host")) {
         vms->gic_version = 0; /* Will probe later */
     } else {
-        error_report("Invalid gic-version option value");
-        error_printf("Allowed gic-version values are: 3, 2, host\n");
-        exit(1);
+        error_setg(errp, "Invalid gic-version value");
+        error_append_hint(errp, "Valid values are 3, 2, host.\n");
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/hw/arm/xilinx_zynq.c b/hw/arm/xilinx_zynq.c
index 1c1a44547f..65e92e1824 100644
--- a/hw/arm/xilinx_zynq.c
+++ b/hw/arm/xilinx_zynq.c
@@ -156,7 +156,6 @@ static void zynq_init(MachineState *machine)
     DeviceState *dev;
     SysBusDevice *busdev;
     qemu_irq pic[64];
-    Error *err = NULL;
     int n;
 
     if (!cpu_model) {
@@ -171,29 +170,14 @@ static void zynq_init(MachineState *machine)
      * realization.
      */
     if (object_property_find(OBJECT(cpu), "has_el3", NULL)) {
-        object_property_set_bool(OBJECT(cpu), false, "has_el3", &err);
-        if (err) {
-            error_report_err(err);
-            exit(1);
-        }
+        object_property_set_bool(OBJECT(cpu), false, "has_el3", &error_fatal);
     }
 
-    object_property_set_int(OBJECT(cpu), ZYNQ_BOARD_MIDR, "midr", &err);
-    if (err) {
-        error_report_err(err);
-        exit(1);
-    }
-
-    object_property_set_int(OBJECT(cpu), MPCORE_PERIPHBASE, "reset-cbar", &err);
-    if (err) {
-        error_report_err(err);
-        exit(1);
-    }
-    object_property_set_bool(OBJECT(cpu), true, "realized", &err);
-    if (err) {
-        error_report_err(err);
-        exit(1);
-    }
+    object_property_set_int(OBJECT(cpu), ZYNQ_BOARD_MIDR, "midr",
+                            &error_fatal);
+    object_property_set_int(OBJECT(cpu), MPCORE_PERIPHBASE, "reset-cbar",
+                            &error_fatal);
+    object_property_set_bool(OBJECT(cpu), true, "realized", &error_fatal);
 
     /* max 2GB ram */
     if (ram_size > 0x80000000) {
diff --git a/hw/arm/xlnx-ep108.c b/hw/arm/xlnx-ep108.c
index 85b978fa76..73e60876e8 100644
--- a/hw/arm/xlnx-ep108.c
+++ b/hw/arm/xlnx-ep108.c
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ static void xlnx_ep108_init(MachineState *machine)
 
     object_property_set_bool(OBJECT(&s->soc), true, "realized", &err);
     if (err) {
-        error_report("%s", error_get_pretty(err));
+        error_report_err(err);
         exit(1);
     }
 
diff --git a/hw/arm/xlnx-zynqmp.c b/hw/arm/xlnx-zynqmp.c
index 87553bbc60..20a3b2b093 100644
--- a/hw/arm/xlnx-zynqmp.c
+++ b/hw/arm/xlnx-zynqmp.c
@@ -227,7 +227,7 @@ static void xlnx_zynqmp_realize(DeviceState *dev, Error **errp)
     }
 
     if (!s->boot_cpu_ptr) {
-        error_setg(errp, "ZynqMP Boot cpu %s not found\n", boot_cpu);
+        error_setg(errp, "ZynqMP Boot cpu %s not found", boot_cpu);
         return;
     }
 
diff --git a/hw/block/dataplane/virtio-blk.c b/hw/block/dataplane/virtio-blk.c
index a2529b2242..b8ce6cd5f3 100644
--- a/hw/block/dataplane/virtio-blk.c
+++ b/hw/block/dataplane/virtio-blk.c
@@ -142,7 +142,6 @@ void virtio_blk_data_plane_create(VirtIODevice *vdev, VirtIOBlkConf *conf,
                                   Error **errp)
 {
     VirtIOBlockDataPlane *s;
-    Error *local_err = NULL;
     BusState *qbus = BUS(qdev_get_parent_bus(DEVICE(vdev)));
     VirtioBusClass *k = VIRTIO_BUS_GET_CLASS(qbus);
 
@@ -163,11 +162,8 @@ void virtio_blk_data_plane_create(VirtIODevice *vdev, VirtIOBlkConf *conf,
     /* If dataplane is (re-)enabled while the guest is running there could be
      * block jobs that can conflict.
      */
-    if (blk_op_is_blocked(conf->conf.blk, BLOCK_OP_TYPE_DATAPLANE,
-                          &local_err)) {
-        error_setg(errp, "cannot start dataplane thread: %s",
-                   error_get_pretty(local_err));
-        error_free(local_err);
+    if (blk_op_is_blocked(conf->conf.blk, BLOCK_OP_TYPE_DATAPLANE, errp)) {
+        error_prepend(errp, "cannot start dataplane thread: ");
         return;
     }
 
diff --git a/hw/block/fdc.c b/hw/block/fdc.c
index 4292eced32..858f5f7ce7 100644
--- a/hw/block/fdc.c
+++ b/hw/block/fdc.c
@@ -2245,10 +2245,12 @@ ISADevice *fdctrl_init_isa(ISABus *bus, DriveInfo **fds)
     dev = DEVICE(isadev);
 
     if (fds[0]) {
-        qdev_prop_set_drive_nofail(dev, "driveA", blk_by_legacy_dinfo(fds[0]));
+        qdev_prop_set_drive(dev, "driveA", blk_by_legacy_dinfo(fds[0]),
+                            &error_fatal);
     }
     if (fds[1]) {
-        qdev_prop_set_drive_nofail(dev, "driveB", blk_by_legacy_dinfo(fds[1]));
+        qdev_prop_set_drive(dev, "driveB", blk_by_legacy_dinfo(fds[1]),
+                            &error_fatal);
     }
     qdev_init_nofail(dev);
 
@@ -2268,10 +2270,12 @@ void fdctrl_init_sysbus(qemu_irq irq, int dma_chann,
     fdctrl = &sys->state;
     fdctrl->dma_chann = dma_chann; /* FIXME */
     if (fds[0]) {
-        qdev_prop_set_drive_nofail(dev, "driveA", blk_by_legacy_dinfo(fds[0]));
+        qdev_prop_set_drive(dev, "driveA", blk_by_legacy_dinfo(fds[0]),
+                            &error_fatal);
     }
     if (fds[1]) {
-        qdev_prop_set_drive_nofail(dev, "driveB", blk_by_legacy_dinfo(fds[1]));
+        qdev_prop_set_drive(dev, "driveB", blk_by_legacy_dinfo(fds[1]),
+                            &error_fatal);
     }
     qdev_init_nofail(dev);
     sbd = SYS_BUS_DEVICE(dev);
@@ -2287,7 +2291,8 @@ void sun4m_fdctrl_init(qemu_irq irq, hwaddr io_base,
 
     dev = qdev_create(NULL, "SUNW,fdtwo");
     if (fds[0]) {
-        qdev_prop_set_drive_nofail(dev, "drive", blk_by_legacy_dinfo(fds[0]));
+        qdev_prop_set_drive(dev, "drive", blk_by_legacy_dinfo(fds[0]),
+                            &error_fatal);
     }
     qdev_init_nofail(dev);
     sys = SYSBUS_FDC(dev);
diff --git a/hw/block/nand.c b/hw/block/nand.c
index f0e34139fe..478e1a6b3f 100644
--- a/hw/block/nand.c
+++ b/hw/block/nand.c
@@ -635,7 +635,7 @@ DeviceState *nand_init(BlockBackend *blk, int manf_id, int chip_id)
     qdev_prop_set_uint8(dev, "manufacturer_id", manf_id);
     qdev_prop_set_uint8(dev, "chip_id", chip_id);
     if (blk) {
-        qdev_prop_set_drive_nofail(dev, "drive", blk);
+        qdev_prop_set_drive(dev, "drive", blk, &error_fatal);
     }
 
     qdev_init_nofail(dev);
diff --git a/hw/char/exynos4210_uart.c b/hw/char/exynos4210_uart.c
index 215f9622c9..2736b37e71 100644
--- a/hw/char/exynos4210_uart.c
+++ b/hw/char/exynos4210_uart.c
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
  */
 
 #include "hw/sysbus.h"
+#include "qemu/error-report.h"
 #include "sysemu/sysemu.h"
 #include "sysemu/char.h"
 
@@ -595,15 +596,17 @@ DeviceState *exynos4210_uart_create(hwaddr addr,
 
     if (!chr) {
         if (channel >= MAX_SERIAL_PORTS) {
-            hw_error("Only %d serial ports are supported by QEMU.\n",
-                     MAX_SERIAL_PORTS);
+            error_report("Only %d serial ports are supported by QEMU",
+                         MAX_SERIAL_PORTS);
+            exit(1);
         }
         chr = serial_hds[channel];
         if (!chr) {
             snprintf(label, ARRAY_SIZE(label), "%s%d", chr_name, channel);
             chr = qemu_chr_new(label, "null", NULL);
             if (!(chr)) {
-                hw_error("Can't assign serial port to UART%d.\n", channel);
+                error_report("Can't assign serial port to UART%d", channel);
+                exit(1);
             }
         }
     }
diff --git a/hw/char/serial.c b/hw/char/serial.c
index 513d73c27f..566e9ef194 100644
--- a/hw/char/serial.c
+++ b/hw/char/serial.c
@@ -888,18 +888,13 @@ SerialState *serial_init(int base, qemu_irq irq, int baudbase,
                          CharDriverState *chr, MemoryRegion *system_io)
 {
     SerialState *s;
-    Error *err = NULL;
 
     s = g_malloc0(sizeof(SerialState));
 
     s->irq = irq;
     s->baudbase = baudbase;
     s->chr = chr;
-    serial_realize_core(s, &err);
-    if (err != NULL) {
-        error_report_err(err);
-        exit(1);
-    }
+    serial_realize_core(s, &error_fatal);
 
     vmstate_register(NULL, base, &vmstate_serial, s);
 
@@ -949,7 +944,6 @@ SerialState *serial_mm_init(MemoryRegion *address_space,
                             CharDriverState *chr, enum device_endian end)
 {
     SerialState *s;
-    Error *err = NULL;
 
     s = g_malloc0(sizeof(SerialState));
 
@@ -958,11 +952,7 @@ SerialState *serial_mm_init(MemoryRegion *address_space,
     s->baudbase = baudbase;
     s->chr = chr;
 
-    serial_realize_core(s, &err);
-    if (err != NULL) {
-        error_report_err(err);
-        exit(1);
-    }
+    serial_realize_core(s, &error_fatal);
     vmstate_register(NULL, base, &vmstate_serial, s);
 
     memory_region_init_io(&s->io, NULL, &serial_mm_ops[end], s,
diff --git a/hw/core/nmi.c b/hw/core/nmi.c
index de1d1f8cb1..4057cdd6a2 100644
--- a/hw/core/nmi.c
+++ b/hw/core/nmi.c
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@
 
 struct do_nmi_s {
     int cpu_index;
-    Error *errp;
+    Error *err;
     bool handled;
 };
 
@@ -40,8 +40,8 @@ static int do_nmi(Object *o, void *opaque)
         NMIClass *nc = NMI_GET_CLASS(n);
 
         ns->handled = true;
-        nc->nmi_monitor_handler(n, ns->cpu_index, &ns->errp);
-        if (ns->errp) {
+        nc->nmi_monitor_handler(n, ns->cpu_index, &ns->err);
+        if (ns->err) {
             return -1;
         }
     }
@@ -59,13 +59,13 @@ void nmi_monitor_handle(int cpu_index, Error **errp)
 {
     struct do_nmi_s ns = {
         .cpu_index = cpu_index,
-        .errp = NULL,
+        .err = NULL,
         .handled = false
     };
 
     nmi_children(object_get_root(), &ns);
     if (ns.handled) {
-        error_propagate(errp, ns.errp);
+        error_propagate(errp, ns.err);
     } else {
         error_setg(errp, QERR_UNSUPPORTED);
     }
diff --git a/hw/core/platform-bus.c b/hw/core/platform-bus.c
index 70e0518901..aa55d01817 100644
--- a/hw/core/platform-bus.c
+++ b/hw/core/platform-bus.c
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 
 #include "hw/platform-bus.h"
 #include "exec/address-spaces.h"
+#include "qemu/error-report.h"
 #include "sysemu/sysemu.h"
 
 
@@ -106,31 +107,29 @@ static void plaform_bus_refresh_irqs(PlatformBusDevice *pbus)
     pbus->done_gathering = true;
 }
 
-static int platform_bus_map_irq(PlatformBusDevice *pbus, SysBusDevice *sbdev,
-                                int n)
+static void platform_bus_map_irq(PlatformBusDevice *pbus, SysBusDevice *sbdev,
+                                 int n)
 {
     int max_irqs = pbus->num_irqs;
     int irqn;
 
     if (sysbus_is_irq_connected(sbdev, n)) {
         /* IRQ is already mapped, nothing to do */
-        return 0;
+        return;
     }
 
     irqn = find_first_zero_bit(pbus->used_irqs, max_irqs);
     if (irqn >= max_irqs) {
-        hw_error("Platform Bus: Can not fit IRQ line");
-        return -1;
+        error_report("Platform Bus: Can not fit IRQ line");
+        exit(1);
     }
 
     set_bit(irqn, pbus->used_irqs);
     sysbus_connect_irq(sbdev, n, pbus->irqs[irqn]);
-
-    return 0;
 }
 
-static int platform_bus_map_mmio(PlatformBusDevice *pbus, SysBusDevice *sbdev,
-                                 int n)
+static void platform_bus_map_mmio(PlatformBusDevice *pbus, SysBusDevice *sbdev,
+                                  int n)
 {
     MemoryRegion *sbdev_mr = sysbus_mmio_get_region(sbdev, n);
     uint64_t size = memory_region_size(sbdev_mr);
@@ -140,7 +139,7 @@ static int platform_bus_map_mmio(PlatformBusDevice *pbus, SysBusDevice *sbdev,
 
     if (memory_region_is_mapped(sbdev_mr)) {
         /* Region is already mapped, nothing to do */
-        return 0;
+        return;
     }
 
     /*
@@ -155,13 +154,13 @@ static int platform_bus_map_mmio(PlatformBusDevice *pbus, SysBusDevice *sbdev,
     }
 
     if (!found_region) {
-        hw_error("Platform Bus: Can not fit MMIO region of size %"PRIx64, size);
+        error_report("Platform Bus: Can not fit MMIO region of size %"PRIx64,
+                     size);
+        exit(1);
     }
 
     /* Map the device's region into our Platform Bus MMIO space */
     memory_region_add_subregion(&pbus->mmio, off, sbdev_mr);
-
-    return 0;
 }
 
 /*
diff --git a/hw/core/qdev-properties-system.c b/hw/core/qdev-properties-system.c
index 921e799dbb..1589abaf60 100644
--- a/hw/core/qdev-properties-system.c
+++ b/hw/core/qdev-properties-system.c
@@ -364,18 +364,6 @@ void qdev_prop_set_drive(DeviceState *dev, const char *name,
                             name, errp);
 }
 
-void qdev_prop_set_drive_nofail(DeviceState *dev, const char *name,
-                                BlockBackend *value)
-{
-    Error *err = NULL;
-
-    qdev_prop_set_drive(dev, name, value, &err);
-    if (err) {
-        error_report_err(err);
-        exit(1);
-    }
-}
-
 void qdev_prop_set_chr(DeviceState *dev, const char *name,
                        CharDriverState *value)
 {
diff --git a/hw/core/qdev-properties.c b/hw/core/qdev-properties.c
index 33e245e12f..3572810b42 100644
--- a/hw/core/qdev-properties.c
+++ b/hw/core/qdev-properties.c
@@ -1063,10 +1063,8 @@ static void qdev_prop_set_globals_for_type(DeviceState *dev,
         object_property_parse(OBJECT(dev), prop->value, prop->property, &err);
         if (err != NULL) {
             assert(prop->user_provided);
-            error_report("Warning: global %s.%s=%s ignored (%s)",
-                         prop->driver, prop->property, prop->value,
-                         error_get_pretty(err));
-            error_free(err);
+            error_reportf_err(err, "Warning: global %s.%s=%s ignored: ",
+                              prop->driver, prop->property, prop->value);
             return;
         }
     }
diff --git a/hw/core/qdev.c b/hw/core/qdev.c
index 4e3173d81a..2c7101d91d 100644
--- a/hw/core/qdev.c
+++ b/hw/core/qdev.c
@@ -370,9 +370,8 @@ void qdev_init_nofail(DeviceState *dev)
 
     object_property_set_bool(OBJECT(dev), true, "realized", &err);
     if (err) {
-        error_report("Initialization of device %s failed: %s",
-                     object_get_typename(OBJECT(dev)),
-                     error_get_pretty(err));
+        error_reportf_err(err, "Initialization of device %s failed: ",
+                          object_get_typename(OBJECT(dev)));
         exit(1);
     }
 }
diff --git a/hw/gpio/omap_gpio.c b/hw/gpio/omap_gpio.c
index 3c538985ee..63d8b42674 100644
--- a/hw/gpio/omap_gpio.c
+++ b/hw/gpio/omap_gpio.c
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 #include "hw/hw.h"
 #include "hw/arm/omap.h"
 #include "hw/sysbus.h"
+#include "qemu/error-report.h"
 
 struct omap_gpio_s {
     qemu_irq irq;
@@ -682,7 +683,8 @@ static int omap_gpio_init(SysBusDevice *sbd)
     struct omap_gpif_s *s = OMAP1_GPIO(dev);
 
     if (!s->clk) {
-        hw_error("omap-gpio: clk not connected\n");
+        error_report("omap-gpio: clk not connected");
+        return -1;
     }
     qdev_init_gpio_in(dev, omap_gpio_set, 16);
     qdev_init_gpio_out(dev, s->omap1.handler, 16);
@@ -700,25 +702,35 @@ static int omap2_gpio_init(SysBusDevice *sbd)
     int i;
 
     if (!s->iclk) {
-        hw_error("omap2-gpio: iclk not connected\n");
+        error_report("omap2-gpio: iclk not connected");
+        return -1;
     }
+
+    s->modulecount = s->mpu_model < omap2430 ? 4
+                   : s->mpu_model < omap3430 ? 5
+                   : 6;
+
+    for (i = 0; i < s->modulecount; i++) {
+        if (!s->fclk[i]) {
+            error_report("omap2-gpio: fclk%d not connected", i);
+            return -1;
+        }
+    }
+
     if (s->mpu_model < omap3430) {
-        s->modulecount = (s->mpu_model < omap2430) ? 4 : 5;
         memory_region_init_io(&s->iomem, OBJECT(s), &omap2_gpif_top_ops, s,
                               "omap2.gpio", 0x1000);
         sysbus_init_mmio(sbd, &s->iomem);
-    } else {
-        s->modulecount = 6;
     }
+
     s->modules = g_new0(struct omap2_gpio_s, s->modulecount);
     s->handler = g_new0(qemu_irq, s->modulecount * 32);
     qdev_init_gpio_in(dev, omap2_gpio_set, s->modulecount * 32);
     qdev_init_gpio_out(dev, s->handler, s->modulecount * 32);
+
     for (i = 0; i < s->modulecount; i++) {
         struct omap2_gpio_s *m = &s->modules[i];
-        if (!s->fclk[i]) {
-            hw_error("omap2-gpio: fclk%d not connected\n", i);
-        }
+
         m->revision = (s->mpu_model < omap3430) ? 0x18 : 0x25;
         m->handler = &s->handler[i * 32];
         sysbus_init_irq(sbd, &m->irq[0]); /* mpu irq */
@@ -728,6 +740,7 @@ static int omap2_gpio_init(SysBusDevice *sbd)
                               "omap.gpio-module", 0x1000);
         sysbus_init_mmio(sbd, &m->iomem);
     }
+
     return 0;
 }
 
diff --git a/hw/i2c/omap_i2c.c b/hw/i2c/omap_i2c.c
index b6f544a221..8b0b14684d 100644
--- a/hw/i2c/omap_i2c.c
+++ b/hw/i2c/omap_i2c.c
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 #include "hw/i2c/i2c.h"
 #include "hw/arm/omap.h"
 #include "hw/sysbus.h"
+#include "qemu/error-report.h"
 
 #define TYPE_OMAP_I2C "omap_i2c"
 #define OMAP_I2C(obj) OBJECT_CHECK(OMAPI2CState, (obj), TYPE_OMAP_I2C)
@@ -449,12 +450,15 @@ static int omap_i2c_init(SysBusDevice *sbd)
     OMAPI2CState *s = OMAP_I2C(dev);
 
     if (!s->fclk) {
-        hw_error("omap_i2c: fclk not connected\n");
+        error_report("omap_i2c: fclk not connected");
+        return -1;
     }
     if (s->revision >= OMAP2_INTR_REV && !s->iclk) {
         /* Note that OMAP1 doesn't have a separate interface clock */
-        hw_error("omap_i2c: iclk not connected\n");
+        error_report("omap_i2c: iclk not connected");
+        return -1;
     }
+
     sysbus_init_irq(sbd, &s->irq);
     sysbus_init_irq(sbd, &s->drq[0]);
     sysbus_init_irq(sbd, &s->drq[1]);
diff --git a/hw/i386/kvm/pci-assign.c b/hw/i386/kvm/pci-assign.c
index 0fd69230ae..eec1340f47 100644
--- a/hw/i386/kvm/pci-assign.c
+++ b/hw/i386/kvm/pci-assign.c
@@ -770,7 +770,7 @@ static char *assign_failed_examine(const AssignedDevice *dev)
         "*** $ echo \"%04x:%02x:%02x.%x\" > /sys/bus/pci/drivers/"
         "pci-stub/bind\n"
         "*** $ echo \"%04x %04x\" > /sys/bus/pci/drivers/pci-stub/remove_id\n"
-        "***",
+        "***\n",
         ns, dev->host.domain, dev->host.bus, dev->host.slot,
         dev->host.function, vendor_id, device_id,
         dev->host.domain, dev->host.bus, dev->host.slot, dev->host.function,
@@ -778,7 +778,7 @@ static char *assign_failed_examine(const AssignedDevice *dev)
         dev->host.function, vendor_id, device_id);
 
 fail:
-    return g_strdup("Couldn't find out why.");
+    return g_strdup("Couldn't find out why.\n");
 }
 
 static void assign_device(AssignedDevice *dev, Error **errp)
@@ -812,8 +812,9 @@ static void assign_device(AssignedDevice *dev, Error **errp)
             char *cause;
 
             cause = assign_failed_examine(dev);
-            error_setg_errno(errp, -r, "Failed to assign device \"%s\"\n%s",
-                             dev->dev.qdev.id, cause);
+            error_setg_errno(errp, -r, "Failed to assign device \"%s\"",
+                             dev->dev.qdev.id);
+            error_append_hint(errp, "%s", cause);
             g_free(cause);
             break;
         }
@@ -912,11 +913,10 @@ retry:
             dev->features |= ASSIGNED_DEVICE_PREFER_MSI_MASK;
             goto retry;
         }
-        error_setg_errno(errp, -r,
-                         "Failed to assign irq for \"%s\"\n"
-                         "Perhaps you are assigning a device "
-                         "that shares an IRQ with another device?",
+        error_setg_errno(errp, -r, "Failed to assign irq for \"%s\"",
                          dev->dev.qdev.id);
+        error_append_hint(errp, "Perhaps you are assigning a device "
+                          "that shares an IRQ with another device?\n");
         return r;
     }
 
diff --git a/hw/i386/pc.c b/hw/i386/pc.c
index c36b8cf45a..9e37186776 100644
--- a/hw/i386/pc.c
+++ b/hw/i386/pc.c
@@ -377,8 +377,8 @@ ISADevice *pc_find_fdc0(void)
 
     if (state.multiple) {
         error_report("warning: multiple floppy disk controllers with "
-                     "iobase=0x3f0 have been found;\n"
-                     "the one being picked for CMOS setup might not reflect "
+                     "iobase=0x3f0 have been found");
+        error_printf("the one being picked for CMOS setup might not reflect "
                      "your intent");
     }
 
@@ -433,7 +433,6 @@ void pc_cmos_init(PCMachineState *pcms,
 {
     int val;
     static pc_cmos_init_late_arg arg;
-    Error *local_err = NULL;
 
     /* various important CMOS locations needed by PC/Bochs bios */
 
@@ -481,11 +480,7 @@ void pc_cmos_init(PCMachineState *pcms,
     object_property_set_link(OBJECT(pcms), OBJECT(s),
                              "rtc_state", &error_abort);
 
-    set_boot_dev(s, MACHINE(pcms)->boot_order, &local_err);
-    if (local_err) {
-        error_report_err(local_err);
-        exit(1);
-    }
+    set_boot_dev(s, MACHINE(pcms)->boot_order, &error_fatal);
 
     val = 0;
     val |= 0x02; /* FPU is there */
@@ -1123,7 +1118,6 @@ void pc_cpus_init(PCMachineState *pcms)
     int i;
     X86CPU *cpu = NULL;
     MachineState *machine = MACHINE(pcms);
-    Error *error = NULL;
     unsigned long apic_id_limit;
 
     /* init CPUs */
@@ -1144,11 +1138,7 @@ void pc_cpus_init(PCMachineState *pcms)
 
     for (i = 0; i < smp_cpus; i++) {
         cpu = pc_new_cpu(machine->cpu_model, x86_cpu_apic_id_from_index(i),
-                         &error);
-        if (error) {
-            error_report_err(error);
-            exit(1);
-        }
+                         &error_fatal);
         object_unref(OBJECT(cpu));
     }
 
@@ -1263,9 +1253,8 @@ void pc_acpi_init(const char *default_dsdt)
 
         acpi_table_add_builtin(opts, &err);
         if (err) {
-            error_report("WARNING: failed to load %s: %s", filename,
-                         error_get_pretty(err));
-            error_free(err);
+            error_reportf_err(err, "WARNING: failed to load %s: ",
+                              filename);
         }
         g_free(filename);
     }
diff --git a/hw/i386/pc_piix.c b/hw/i386/pc_piix.c
index 438cdae99e..df2b824385 100644
--- a/hw/i386/pc_piix.c
+++ b/hw/i386/pc_piix.c
@@ -189,7 +189,8 @@ static void pc_init1(MachineState *machine,
     } else {
         pci_bus = NULL;
         i440fx_state = NULL;
-        isa_bus = isa_bus_new(NULL, get_system_memory(), system_io);
+        isa_bus = isa_bus_new(NULL, get_system_memory(), system_io,
+                              &error_abort);
         no_hpet = 1;
     }
     isa_bus_irqs(isa_bus, gsi);
diff --git a/hw/ide/qdev.c b/hw/ide/qdev.c
index 788b36133c..1f831098c7 100644
--- a/hw/ide/qdev.c
+++ b/hw/ide/qdev.c
@@ -118,7 +118,8 @@ IDEDevice *ide_create_drive(IDEBus *bus, int unit, DriveInfo *drive)
 
     dev = qdev_create(&bus->qbus, drive->media_cd ? "ide-cd" : "ide-hd");
     qdev_prop_set_uint32(dev, "unit", unit);
-    qdev_prop_set_drive_nofail(dev, "drive", blk_by_legacy_dinfo(drive));
+    qdev_prop_set_drive(dev, "drive", blk_by_legacy_dinfo(drive),
+                        &error_fatal);
     qdev_init_nofail(dev);
     return DO_UPCAST(IDEDevice, qdev, dev);
 }
diff --git a/hw/intc/omap_intc.c b/hw/intc/omap_intc.c
index e9b38a3c63..07b6272b09 100644
--- a/hw/intc/omap_intc.c
+++ b/hw/intc/omap_intc.c
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 #include "hw/hw.h"
 #include "hw/arm/omap.h"
 #include "hw/sysbus.h"
+#include "qemu/error-report.h"
 
 /* Interrupt Handlers */
 struct omap_intr_handler_bank_s {
@@ -367,7 +368,8 @@ static int omap_intc_init(SysBusDevice *sbd)
     struct omap_intr_handler_s *s = OMAP_INTC(dev);
 
     if (!s->iclk) {
-        hw_error("omap-intc: clk not connected\n");
+        error_report("omap-intc: clk not connected");
+        return -1;
     }
     s->nbanks = 1;
     sysbus_init_irq(sbd, &s->parent_intr[0]);
@@ -608,10 +610,12 @@ static int omap2_intc_init(SysBusDevice *sbd)
     struct omap_intr_handler_s *s = OMAP_INTC(dev);
 
     if (!s->iclk) {
-        hw_error("omap2-intc: iclk not connected\n");
+        error_report("omap2-intc: iclk not connected");
+        return -1;
     }
     if (!s->fclk) {
-        hw_error("omap2-intc: fclk not connected\n");
+        error_report("omap2-intc: fclk not connected");
+        return -1;
     }
     s->level_only = 1;
     s->nbanks = 3;
diff --git a/hw/isa/i82378.c b/hw/isa/i82378.c
index d4c830684b..3793c6fe7a 100644
--- a/hw/isa/i82378.c
+++ b/hw/isa/i82378.c
@@ -75,7 +75,10 @@ static void i82378_realize(PCIDevice *pci, Error **errp)
     pci_config_set_interrupt_pin(pci_conf, 1); /* interrupt pin 0 */
 
     isabus = isa_bus_new(dev, get_system_memory(),
-                         pci_address_space_io(pci));
+                         pci_address_space_io(pci), errp);
+    if (!isabus) {
+        return;
+    }
 
     /* This device has:
        2 82C59 (irq)
diff --git a/hw/isa/isa-bus.c b/hw/isa/isa-bus.c
index 43e0cd8ddd..630054c03e 100644
--- a/hw/isa/isa-bus.c
+++ b/hw/isa/isa-bus.c
@@ -44,10 +44,10 @@ static const TypeInfo isa_bus_info = {
 };
 
 ISABus *isa_bus_new(DeviceState *dev, MemoryRegion* address_space,
-                    MemoryRegion *address_space_io)
+                    MemoryRegion *address_space_io, Error **errp)
 {
     if (isabus) {
-        fprintf(stderr, "Can't create a second ISA bus\n");
+        error_setg(errp, "Can't create a second ISA bus");
         return NULL;
     }
     if (!dev) {
@@ -63,9 +63,6 @@ ISABus *isa_bus_new(DeviceState *dev, MemoryRegion* address_space,
 
 void isa_bus_irqs(ISABus *bus, qemu_irq *irqs)
 {
-    if (!bus) {
-        hw_error("Can't set isa irqs with no isa bus present.");
-    }
     bus->irqs = irqs;
 }
 
@@ -137,10 +134,6 @@ ISADevice *isa_create(ISABus *bus, const char *name)
 {
     DeviceState *dev;
 
-    if (!bus) {
-        hw_error("Tried to create isa device %s with no isa bus present.",
-                 name);
-    }
     dev = qdev_create(BUS(bus), name);
     return ISA_DEVICE(dev);
 }
@@ -149,10 +142,6 @@ ISADevice *isa_try_create(ISABus *bus, const char *name)
 {
     DeviceState *dev;
 
-    if (!bus) {
-        hw_error("Tried to create isa device %s with no isa bus present.",
-                 name);
-    }
     dev = qdev_try_create(BUS(bus), name);
     return ISA_DEVICE(dev);
 }
diff --git a/hw/isa/lpc_ich9.c b/hw/isa/lpc_ich9.c
index 1ffc80362b..ed9907d29a 100644
--- a/hw/isa/lpc_ich9.c
+++ b/hw/isa/lpc_ich9.c
@@ -602,12 +602,16 @@ static void ich9_lpc_initfn(Object *obj)
     ich9_lpc_add_properties(lpc);
 }
 
-static int ich9_lpc_init(PCIDevice *d)
+static void ich9_lpc_realize(PCIDevice *d, Error **errp)
 {
     ICH9LPCState *lpc = ICH9_LPC_DEVICE(d);
     ISABus *isa_bus;
 
-    isa_bus = isa_bus_new(DEVICE(d), get_system_memory(), get_system_io());
+    isa_bus = isa_bus_new(DEVICE(d), get_system_memory(), get_system_io(),
+                          errp);
+    if (!isa_bus) {
+        return;
+    }
 
     pci_set_long(d->wmask + ICH9_LPC_PMBASE,
                  ICH9_LPC_PMBASE_BASE_ADDRESS_MASK);
@@ -628,7 +632,6 @@ static int ich9_lpc_init(PCIDevice *d)
     memory_region_add_subregion_overlap(pci_address_space_io(d),
                                         ICH9_RST_CNT_IOPORT, &lpc->rst_cnt_mem,
                                         1);
-    return 0;
 }
 
 static void ich9_device_plug_cb(HotplugHandler *hotplug_dev,
@@ -706,7 +709,7 @@ static void ich9_lpc_class_init(ObjectClass *klass, void *data)
 
     set_bit(DEVICE_CATEGORY_BRIDGE, dc->categories);
     dc->reset = ich9_lpc_reset;
-    k->init = ich9_lpc_init;
+    k->realize = ich9_lpc_realize;
     dc->vmsd = &vmstate_ich9_lpc;
     dc->props = ich9_lpc_properties;
     k->config_write = ich9_lpc_config_write;
diff --git a/hw/isa/pc87312.c b/hw/isa/pc87312.c
index 3b1fcec537..38030655f4 100644
--- a/hw/isa/pc87312.c
+++ b/hw/isa/pc87312.c
@@ -324,14 +324,14 @@ static void pc87312_realize(DeviceState *dev, Error **errp)
         /* FIXME use a qdev drive property instead of drive_get() */
         drive = drive_get(IF_FLOPPY, 0, 0);
         if (drive != NULL) {
-            qdev_prop_set_drive_nofail(d, "driveA",
-                                       blk_by_legacy_dinfo(drive));
+            qdev_prop_set_drive(d, "driveA", blk_by_legacy_dinfo(drive),
+                                &error_fatal);
         }
         /* FIXME use a qdev drive property instead of drive_get() */
         drive = drive_get(IF_FLOPPY, 0, 1);
         if (drive != NULL) {
-            qdev_prop_set_drive_nofail(d, "driveB",
-                                       blk_by_legacy_dinfo(drive));
+            qdev_prop_set_drive(d, "driveB", blk_by_legacy_dinfo(drive),
+                                &error_fatal);
         }
         qdev_init_nofail(d);
         s->fdc.dev = isa;
diff --git a/hw/isa/piix4.c b/hw/isa/piix4.c
index 2c59e91fff..644cfd9536 100644
--- a/hw/isa/piix4.c
+++ b/hw/isa/piix4.c
@@ -90,8 +90,10 @@ static void piix4_realize(PCIDevice *dev, Error **errp)
 {
     PIIX4State *d = PIIX4_PCI_DEVICE(dev);
 
-    isa_bus_new(DEVICE(d), pci_address_space(dev),
-                pci_address_space_io(dev));
+    if (!isa_bus_new(DEVICE(d), pci_address_space(dev),
+                     pci_address_space_io(dev), errp)) {
+        return;
+    }
     piix4_dev = &d->dev;
     qemu_register_reset(piix4_reset, d);
 }
diff --git a/hw/isa/vt82c686.c b/hw/isa/vt82c686.c
index 252e1d7145..6c2190b46c 100644
--- a/hw/isa/vt82c686.c
+++ b/hw/isa/vt82c686.c
@@ -440,7 +440,10 @@ static void vt82c686b_realize(PCIDevice *d, Error **errp)
     int i;
 
     isa_bus = isa_bus_new(DEVICE(d), get_system_memory(),
-                          pci_address_space_io(d));
+                          pci_address_space_io(d), errp);
+    if (!isa_bus) {
+        return;
+    }
 
     pci_conf = d->config;
     pci_config_set_prog_interface(pci_conf, 0x0);
diff --git a/hw/m68k/an5206.c b/hw/m68k/an5206.c
index c1dea17f33..8d9ccaa88e 100644
--- a/hw/m68k/an5206.c
+++ b/hw/m68k/an5206.c
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
 #include "hw/loader.h"
 #include "elf.h"
 #include "exec/address-spaces.h"
+#include "qemu/error-report.h"
 #include "sysemu/qtest.h"
 
 #define KERNEL_LOAD_ADDR 0x10000
@@ -39,7 +40,8 @@ static void an5206_init(MachineState *machine)
     }
     cpu = cpu_m68k_init(cpu_model);
     if (!cpu) {
-        hw_error("Unable to find m68k CPU definition\n");
+        error_report("Unable to find m68k CPU definition");
+        exit(1);
     }
     env = &cpu->env;
 
diff --git a/hw/mips/mips_jazz.c b/hw/mips/mips_jazz.c
index 1ab885bb3f..1cfbaa605a 100644
--- a/hw/mips/mips_jazz.c
+++ b/hw/mips/mips_jazz.c
@@ -219,7 +219,7 @@ static void mips_jazz_init(MachineState *machine,
     memory_region_init(isa_mem, NULL, "isa-mem", 0x01000000);
     memory_region_add_subregion(address_space, 0x90000000, isa_io);
     memory_region_add_subregion(address_space, 0x91000000, isa_mem);
-    isa_bus = isa_bus_new(NULL, isa_mem, isa_io);
+    isa_bus = isa_bus_new(NULL, isa_mem, isa_io, &error_abort);
 
     /* ISA devices */
     i8259 = i8259_init(isa_bus, env->irq[4]);
diff --git a/hw/mips/mips_r4k.c b/hw/mips/mips_r4k.c
index af10da1c57..2d4e038673 100644
--- a/hw/mips/mips_r4k.c
+++ b/hw/mips/mips_r4k.c
@@ -272,7 +272,7 @@ void mips_r4k_init(MachineState *machine)
     memory_region_init(isa_mem, NULL, "isa-mem", 0x01000000);
     memory_region_add_subregion(get_system_memory(), 0x14000000, isa_io);
     memory_region_add_subregion(get_system_memory(), 0x10000000, isa_mem);
-    isa_bus = isa_bus_new(NULL, isa_mem, get_system_io());
+    isa_bus = isa_bus_new(NULL, isa_mem, get_system_io(), &error_abort);
 
     /* The PIC is attached to the MIPS CPU INT0 pin */
     i8259 = i8259_init(isa_bus, env->irq[2]);
diff --git a/hw/net/etraxfs_eth.c b/hw/net/etraxfs_eth.c
index d6002750f0..b562ac990a 100644
--- a/hw/net/etraxfs_eth.c
+++ b/hw/net/etraxfs_eth.c
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@
 #include "hw/sysbus.h"
 #include "net/net.h"
 #include "hw/cris/etraxfs.h"
+#include "qemu/error-report.h"
 
 #define D(x)
 
@@ -589,7 +590,8 @@ static int fs_eth_init(SysBusDevice *sbd)
     ETRAXFSEthState *s = ETRAX_FS_ETH(dev);
 
     if (!s->dma_out || !s->dma_in) {
-        hw_error("Unconnected ETRAX-FS Ethernet MAC.\n");
+        error_report("Unconnected ETRAX-FS Ethernet MAC");
+        return -1;
     }
 
     s->dma_out->client.push = eth_tx_push;
diff --git a/hw/pci-host/piix.c b/hw/pci-host/piix.c
index 924f0fa82b..b0d7e31607 100644
--- a/hw/pci-host/piix.c
+++ b/hw/pci-host/piix.c
@@ -651,8 +651,10 @@ static void piix3_realize(PCIDevice *dev, Error **errp)
 {
     PIIX3State *d = PIIX3_PCI_DEVICE(dev);
 
-    isa_bus_new(DEVICE(d), get_system_memory(),
-                pci_address_space_io(dev));
+    if (!isa_bus_new(DEVICE(d), get_system_memory(),
+                     pci_address_space_io(dev), errp)) {
+        return;
+    }
 
     memory_region_init_io(&d->rcr_mem, OBJECT(dev), &rcr_ops, d,
                           "piix3-reset-control", 1);
diff --git a/hw/pci-host/prep.c b/hw/pci-host/prep.c
index da88cb3352..f434596e8f 100644
--- a/hw/pci-host/prep.c
+++ b/hw/pci-host/prep.c
@@ -326,6 +326,7 @@ static void raven_realize(PCIDevice *d, Error **errp)
             }
         }
         if (bios_size < 0 || bios_size > BIOS_SIZE) {
+            /* FIXME should error_setg() */
             hw_error("qemu: could not load bios image '%s'\n", s->bios_name);
         }
         g_free(filename);
@@ -355,8 +356,9 @@ static void raven_class_init(ObjectClass *klass, void *data)
     dc->desc = "PReP Host Bridge - Motorola Raven";
     dc->vmsd = &vmstate_raven;
     /*
-     * PCI-facing part of the host bridge, not usable without the
-     * host-facing part, which can't be device_add'ed, yet.
+     * Reason: PCI-facing part of the host bridge, not usable without
+     * the host-facing part, which can't be device_add'ed, yet.
+     * Reason: realize() method uses hw_error().
      */
     dc->cannot_instantiate_with_device_add_yet = true;
 }
diff --git a/hw/ppc/e500.c b/hw/ppc/e500.c
index b3418dbae4..bd7da47fe2 100644
--- a/hw/ppc/e500.c
+++ b/hw/ppc/e500.c
@@ -751,8 +751,8 @@ static qemu_irq *ppce500_init_mpic(MachineState *machine, PPCE500Params *params,
             dev = ppce500_init_mpic_kvm(params, irqs, &err);
         }
         if (machine_kernel_irqchip_required(machine) && !dev) {
-            error_report("kernel_irqchip requested but unavailable: %s",
-                         error_get_pretty(err));
+            error_reportf_err(err,
+                              "kernel_irqchip requested but unavailable: ");
             exit(1);
         }
     }
diff --git a/hw/ppc/mac_newworld.c b/hw/ppc/mac_newworld.c
index 1b9a573cae..ca3d6a8c40 100644
--- a/hw/ppc/mac_newworld.c
+++ b/hw/ppc/mac_newworld.c
@@ -62,6 +62,7 @@
 #include "hw/ide.h"
 #include "hw/loader.h"
 #include "elf.h"
+#include "qemu/error-report.h"
 #include "sysemu/kvm.h"
 #include "kvm_ppc.h"
 #include "hw/usb.h"
@@ -226,7 +227,7 @@ static void ppc_core99_init(MachineState *machine)
         bios_size = -1;
     }
     if (bios_size < 0 || bios_size > BIOS_SIZE) {
-        hw_error("qemu: could not load PowerPC bios '%s'\n", bios_name);
+        error_report("could not load PowerPC bios '%s'", bios_name);
         exit(1);
     }
 
@@ -252,7 +253,7 @@ static void ppc_core99_init(MachineState *machine)
                                               kernel_base,
                                               ram_size - kernel_base);
         if (kernel_size < 0) {
-            hw_error("qemu: could not load kernel '%s'\n", kernel_filename);
+            error_report("could not load kernel '%s'", kernel_filename);
             exit(1);
         }
         /* load initrd */
@@ -261,8 +262,8 @@ static void ppc_core99_init(MachineState *machine)
             initrd_size = load_image_targphys(initrd_filename, initrd_base,
                                               ram_size - initrd_base);
             if (initrd_size < 0) {
-                hw_error("qemu: could not load initial ram disk '%s'\n",
-                         initrd_filename);
+                error_report("could not load initial ram disk '%s'",
+                             initrd_filename);
                 exit(1);
             }
             cmdline_base = round_page(initrd_base + initrd_size);
@@ -344,7 +345,7 @@ static void ppc_core99_init(MachineState *machine)
             break;
 #endif /* defined(TARGET_PPC64) */
         default:
-            hw_error("Bus model not supported on mac99 machine\n");
+            error_report("Bus model not supported on mac99 machine");
             exit(1);
         }
     }
diff --git a/hw/ppc/mac_oldworld.c b/hw/ppc/mac_oldworld.c
index 21eaf0e66b..c3f9fe3907 100644
--- a/hw/ppc/mac_oldworld.c
+++ b/hw/ppc/mac_oldworld.c
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@
 #include "hw/ide.h"
 #include "hw/loader.h"
 #include "elf.h"
+#include "qemu/error-report.h"
 #include "sysemu/kvm.h"
 #include "kvm_ppc.h"
 #include "sysemu/block-backend.h"
@@ -153,7 +154,7 @@ static void ppc_heathrow_init(MachineState *machine)
         bios_size = -1;
     }
     if (bios_size < 0 || bios_size > BIOS_SIZE) {
-        hw_error("qemu: could not load PowerPC bios '%s'\n", bios_name);
+        error_report("could not load PowerPC bios '%s'", bios_name);
         exit(1);
     }
 
@@ -178,8 +179,7 @@ static void ppc_heathrow_init(MachineState *machine)
                                               kernel_base,
                                               ram_size - kernel_base);
         if (kernel_size < 0) {
-            hw_error("qemu: could not load kernel '%s'\n",
-                      kernel_filename);
+            error_report("could not load kernel '%s'", kernel_filename);
             exit(1);
         }
         /* load initrd */
@@ -188,8 +188,8 @@ static void ppc_heathrow_init(MachineState *machine)
             initrd_size = load_image_targphys(initrd_filename, initrd_base,
                                               ram_size - initrd_base);
             if (initrd_size < 0) {
-                hw_error("qemu: could not load initial ram disk '%s'\n",
-                         initrd_filename);
+                error_report("could not load initial ram disk '%s'",
+                             initrd_filename);
                 exit(1);
             }
             cmdline_base = round_page(initrd_base + initrd_size);
@@ -246,7 +246,8 @@ static void ppc_heathrow_init(MachineState *machine)
                 ((qemu_irq *)env->irq_inputs)[PPC6xx_INPUT_INT];
             break;
         default:
-            hw_error("Bus model not supported on OldWorld Mac machine\n");
+            error_report("Bus model not supported on OldWorld Mac machine");
+            exit(1);
         }
     }
 
@@ -259,7 +260,8 @@ static void ppc_heathrow_init(MachineState *machine)
 
     /* init basic PC hardware */
     if (PPC_INPUT(env) != PPC_FLAGS_INPUT_6xx) {
-        hw_error("Only 6xx bus is supported on heathrow machine\n");
+        error_report("Only 6xx bus is supported on heathrow machine");
+        exit(1);
     }
     pic = heathrow_pic_init(&pic_mem, 1, heathrow_irqs);
     pci_bus = pci_grackle_init(0xfec00000, pic,
diff --git a/hw/ppc/prep.c b/hw/ppc/prep.c
index 5ad28f75cf..0e102fcfbe 100644
--- a/hw/ppc/prep.c
+++ b/hw/ppc/prep.c
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@
 #include "hw/pci/pci_host.h"
 #include "hw/ppc/ppc.h"
 #include "hw/boards.h"
+#include "qemu/error-report.h"
 #include "qemu/log.h"
 #include "hw/ide.h"
 #include "hw/loader.h"
@@ -532,7 +533,7 @@ static void ppc_prep_init(MachineState *machine)
         kernel_size = load_image_targphys(kernel_filename, kernel_base,
                                           ram_size - kernel_base);
         if (kernel_size < 0) {
-            hw_error("qemu: could not load kernel '%s'\n", kernel_filename);
+            error_report("could not load kernel '%s'", kernel_filename);
             exit(1);
         }
         /* load initrd */
@@ -541,8 +542,9 @@ static void ppc_prep_init(MachineState *machine)
             initrd_size = load_image_targphys(initrd_filename, initrd_base,
                                               ram_size - initrd_base);
             if (initrd_size < 0) {
-                hw_error("qemu: could not load initial ram disk '%s'\n",
-                          initrd_filename);
+                error_report("could not load initial ram disk '%s'",
+                             initrd_filename);
+                exit(1);
             }
         } else {
             initrd_base = 0;
@@ -569,7 +571,8 @@ static void ppc_prep_init(MachineState *machine)
     }
 
     if (PPC_INPUT(env) != PPC_FLAGS_INPUT_6xx) {
-        hw_error("Only 6xx bus is supported on PREP machine\n");
+        error_report("Only 6xx bus is supported on PREP machine");
+        exit(1);
     }
 
     dev = qdev_create(NULL, "raven-pcihost");
diff --git a/hw/ppc/spapr.c b/hw/ppc/spapr.c
index 414e0f9b7a..50e5a268da 100644
--- a/hw/ppc/spapr.c
+++ b/hw/ppc/spapr.c
@@ -122,10 +122,11 @@ static XICSState *xics_system_init(MachineState *machine,
             icp = try_create_xics(TYPE_KVM_XICS, nr_servers, nr_irqs, &err);
         }
         if (machine_kernel_irqchip_required(machine) && !icp) {
-            error_report("kernel_irqchip requested but unavailable: %s",
-                         error_get_pretty(err));
+            error_reportf_err(err,
+                              "kernel_irqchip requested but unavailable: ");
+        } else {
+            error_free(err);
         }
-        error_free(err);
     }
 
     if (!icp) {
@@ -1216,7 +1217,8 @@ static void spapr_create_nvram(sPAPRMachineState *spapr)
     DriveInfo *dinfo = drive_get(IF_PFLASH, 0, 0);
 
     if (dinfo) {
-        qdev_prop_set_drive_nofail(dev, "drive", blk_by_legacy_dinfo(dinfo));
+        qdev_prop_set_drive(dev, "drive", blk_by_legacy_dinfo(dinfo),
+                            &error_fatal);
     }
 
     qdev_init_nofail(dev);
@@ -1834,7 +1836,8 @@ static void ppc_spapr_init(MachineState *machine)
         ram_addr_t hotplug_mem_size = machine->maxram_size - machine->ram_size;
 
         if (machine->ram_slots > SPAPR_MAX_RAM_SLOTS) {
-            error_report("Specified number of memory slots %"PRIu64" exceeds max supported %d\n",
+            error_report("Specified number of memory slots %" PRIu64
+                         " exceeds max supported %d",
                          machine->ram_slots, SPAPR_MAX_RAM_SLOTS);
             exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
         }
diff --git a/hw/ppc/spapr_drc.c b/hw/ppc/spapr_drc.c
index 8be62c349b..4fb86a68c4 100644
--- a/hw/ppc/spapr_drc.c
+++ b/hw/ppc/spapr_drc.c
@@ -465,8 +465,7 @@ static void realize(DeviceState *d, Error **errp)
     object_property_add_alias(root_container, link_name,
                               drc->owner, child_name, &err);
     if (err) {
-        error_report("%s", error_get_pretty(err));
-        error_free(err);
+        error_report_err(err);
         object_unref(OBJECT(drc));
     }
     g_free(child_name);
@@ -486,8 +485,7 @@ static void unrealize(DeviceState *d, Error **errp)
     snprintf(name, sizeof(name), "%x", drck->get_index(drc));
     object_property_del(root_container, name, &err);
     if (err) {
-        error_report("%s", error_get_pretty(err));
-        error_free(err);
+        error_report_err(err);
         object_unref(OBJECT(drc));
     }
 }
diff --git a/hw/s390x/ipl.c b/hw/s390x/ipl.c
index b91fcc6e79..9c01be5ca9 100644
--- a/hw/s390x/ipl.c
+++ b/hw/s390x/ipl.c
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ static void s390_ipl_realize(DeviceState *dev, Error **errp)
     S390IPLState *ipl = S390_IPL(dev);
     uint64_t pentry = KERN_IMAGE_START;
     int kernel_size;
-    Error *l_err = NULL;
+    Error *err = NULL;
 
     int bios_size;
     char *bios_filename;
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ static void s390_ipl_realize(DeviceState *dev, Error **errp)
 
         bios_filename = qemu_find_file(QEMU_FILE_TYPE_BIOS, bios_name);
         if (bios_filename == NULL) {
-            error_setg(&l_err, "could not find stage1 bootloader\n");
+            error_setg(&err, "could not find stage1 bootloader");
             goto error;
         }
 
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ static void s390_ipl_realize(DeviceState *dev, Error **errp)
         g_free(bios_filename);
 
         if (bios_size == -1) {
-            error_setg(&l_err, "could not load bootloader '%s'\n", bios_name);
+            error_setg(&err, "could not load bootloader '%s'", bios_name);
             goto error;
         }
 
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ static void s390_ipl_realize(DeviceState *dev, Error **errp)
             kernel_size = load_image_targphys(ipl->kernel, 0, ram_size);
         }
         if (kernel_size < 0) {
-            error_setg(&l_err, "could not load kernel '%s'\n", ipl->kernel);
+            error_setg(&err, "could not load kernel '%s'", ipl->kernel);
             goto error;
         }
         /*
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ static void s390_ipl_realize(DeviceState *dev, Error **errp)
             initrd_size = load_image_targphys(ipl->initrd, initrd_offset,
                                               ram_size - initrd_offset);
             if (initrd_size == -1) {
-                error_setg(&l_err, "could not load initrd '%s'\n", ipl->initrd);
+                error_setg(&err, "could not load initrd '%s'", ipl->initrd);
                 goto error;
             }
 
@@ -170,7 +170,7 @@ static void s390_ipl_realize(DeviceState *dev, Error **errp)
     }
     qemu_register_reset(qdev_reset_all_fn, dev);
 error:
-    error_propagate(errp, l_err);
+    error_propagate(errp, err);
 }
 
 static Property s390_ipl_properties[] = {
diff --git a/hw/s390x/s390-skeys-kvm.c b/hw/s390x/s390-skeys-kvm.c
index 682949afb2..eaa37ba408 100644
--- a/hw/s390x/s390-skeys-kvm.c
+++ b/hw/s390x/s390-skeys-kvm.c
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ static int kvm_s390_skeys_enabled(S390SKeysState *ss)
 
     r = skeyclass->get_skeys(ss, 0, 1, &single_key);
     if (r != 0 && r != KVM_S390_GET_SKEYS_NONE) {
-        error_report("S390_GET_KEYS error %d\n", r);
+        error_report("S390_GET_KEYS error %d", r);
     }
     return (r == 0);
 }
diff --git a/hw/s390x/s390-skeys.c b/hw/s390x/s390-skeys.c
index 539ef6d3a4..f2b732e300 100644
--- a/hw/s390x/s390-skeys.c
+++ b/hw/s390x/s390-skeys.c
@@ -100,8 +100,7 @@ void hmp_dump_skeys(Monitor *mon, const QDict *qdict)
 
     qmp_dump_skeys(filename, &err);
     if (err) {
-        monitor_printf(mon, "%s\n", error_get_pretty(err));
-        error_free(err);
+        error_report_err(err);
     }
 }
 
@@ -192,8 +191,8 @@ static int qemu_s390_skeys_set(S390SKeysState *ss, uint64_t start_gfn,
     /* Check for uint64 overflow and access beyond end of key data */
     if (start_gfn + count > skeydev->key_count || start_gfn + count < count) {
         error_report("Error: Setting storage keys for page beyond the end "
-                "of memory: gfn=%" PRIx64 " count=%" PRId64 "\n", start_gfn,
-                count);
+                     "of memory: gfn=%" PRIx64 " count=%" PRId64,
+                     start_gfn, count);
         return -EINVAL;
     }
 
@@ -212,8 +211,8 @@ static int qemu_s390_skeys_get(S390SKeysState *ss, uint64_t start_gfn,
     /* Check for uint64 overflow and access beyond end of key data */
     if (start_gfn + count > skeydev->key_count || start_gfn + count < count) {
         error_report("Error: Getting storage keys for page beyond the end "
-                "of memory: gfn=%" PRIx64 " count=%" PRId64 "\n", start_gfn,
-                count);
+                     "of memory: gfn=%" PRIx64 " count=%" PRId64,
+                     start_gfn, count);
         return -EINVAL;
     }
 
@@ -257,7 +256,7 @@ static void s390_storage_keys_save(QEMUFile *f, void *opaque)
 
     buf = g_try_malloc(S390_SKEYS_BUFFER_SIZE);
     if (!buf) {
-        error_report("storage key save could not allocate memory\n");
+        error_report("storage key save could not allocate memory");
         goto end_stream;
     }
 
@@ -277,7 +276,7 @@ static void s390_storage_keys_save(QEMUFile *f, void *opaque)
                  * use S390_SKEYS_SAVE_FLAG_ERROR to indicate failure to the
                  * reading side.
                  */
-                error_report("S390_GET_KEYS error %d\n", error);
+                error_report("S390_GET_KEYS error %d", error);
                 memset(buf, 0, S390_SKEYS_BUFFER_SIZE);
                 eos = S390_SKEYS_SAVE_FLAG_ERROR;
             }
@@ -315,7 +314,7 @@ static int s390_storage_keys_load(QEMUFile *f, void *opaque, int version_id)
             uint8_t *buf = g_try_malloc(S390_SKEYS_BUFFER_SIZE);
 
             if (!buf) {
-                error_report("storage key load could not allocate memory\n");
+                error_report("storage key load could not allocate memory");
                 ret = -ENOMEM;
                 break;
             }
@@ -327,7 +326,7 @@ static int s390_storage_keys_load(QEMUFile *f, void *opaque, int version_id)
 
                 ret = skeyclass->set_skeys(ss, cur_gfn, cur_count, buf);
                 if (ret < 0) {
-                    error_report("S390_SET_KEYS error %d\n", ret);
+                    error_report("S390_SET_KEYS error %d", ret);
                     break;
                 }
                 handled_count += cur_count;
diff --git a/hw/s390x/sclp.c b/hw/s390x/sclp.c
index a061b49f19..74f2b40154 100644
--- a/hw/s390x/sclp.c
+++ b/hw/s390x/sclp.c
@@ -456,29 +456,26 @@ static void sclp_realize(DeviceState *dev, Error **errp)
 {
     MachineState *machine = MACHINE(qdev_get_machine());
     SCLPDevice *sclp = SCLP(dev);
-    Error *l_err = NULL;
+    Error *err = NULL;
     uint64_t hw_limit;
     int ret;
 
     object_property_set_bool(OBJECT(sclp->event_facility), true, "realized",
-                             &l_err);
-    if (l_err) {
-        goto error;
+                             &err);
+    if (err) {
+        goto out;
     }
 
     ret = s390_set_memory_limit(machine->maxram_size, &hw_limit);
     if (ret == -E2BIG) {
-        error_setg(&l_err, "qemu: host supports a maximum of %" PRIu64 " GB",
+        error_setg(&err, "qemu: host supports a maximum of %" PRIu64 " GB",
                    hw_limit >> 30);
-        goto error;
     } else if (ret) {
-        error_setg(&l_err, "qemu: setting the guest size failed");
-        goto error;
+        error_setg(&err, "qemu: setting the guest size failed");
     }
-    return;
-error:
-    assert(l_err);
-    error_propagate(errp, l_err);
+
+out:
+    error_propagate(errp, err);
 }
 
 static void sclp_memory_init(SCLPDevice *sclp)
diff --git a/hw/scsi/vhost-scsi.c b/hw/scsi/vhost-scsi.c
index 00cdac62f9..7bc82885ac 100644
--- a/hw/scsi/vhost-scsi.c
+++ b/hw/scsi/vhost-scsi.c
@@ -217,11 +217,9 @@ static void vhost_scsi_realize(DeviceState *dev, Error **errp)
     }
 
     if (vs->conf.vhostfd) {
-        vhostfd = monitor_fd_param(cur_mon, vs->conf.vhostfd, &err);
+        vhostfd = monitor_fd_param(cur_mon, vs->conf.vhostfd, errp);
         if (vhostfd == -1) {
-            error_setg(errp, "vhost-scsi: unable to parse vhostfd: %s",
-                       error_get_pretty(err));
-            error_free(err);
+            error_prepend(errp, "vhost-scsi: unable to parse vhostfd: ");
             return;
         }
     } else {
diff --git a/hw/smbios/smbios.c b/hw/smbios/smbios.c
index b81a1d349d..a3e575ac79 100644
--- a/hw/smbios/smbios.c
+++ b/hw/smbios/smbios.c
@@ -937,7 +937,6 @@ static void save_opt(const char **dest, QemuOpts *opts, const char *name)
 
 void smbios_entry_add(QemuOpts *opts)
 {
-    Error *local_err = NULL;
     const char *val;
 
     assert(!smbios_immutable);
@@ -948,11 +947,7 @@ void smbios_entry_add(QemuOpts *opts)
         int size;
         struct smbios_table *table; /* legacy mode only */
 
-        qemu_opts_validate(opts, qemu_smbios_file_opts, &local_err);
-        if (local_err) {
-            error_report_err(local_err);
-            exit(1);
-        }
+        qemu_opts_validate(opts, qemu_smbios_file_opts, &error_fatal);
 
         size = get_image_size(val);
         if (size == -1 || size < sizeof(struct smbios_structure_header)) {
@@ -1034,11 +1029,7 @@ void smbios_entry_add(QemuOpts *opts)
 
         switch (type) {
         case 0:
-            qemu_opts_validate(opts, qemu_smbios_type0_opts, &local_err);
-            if (local_err) {
-                error_report_err(local_err);
-                exit(1);
-            }
+            qemu_opts_validate(opts, qemu_smbios_type0_opts, &error_fatal);
             save_opt(&type0.vendor, opts, "vendor");
             save_opt(&type0.version, opts, "version");
             save_opt(&type0.date, opts, "date");
@@ -1054,11 +1045,7 @@ void smbios_entry_add(QemuOpts *opts)
             }
             return;
         case 1:
-            qemu_opts_validate(opts, qemu_smbios_type1_opts, &local_err);
-            if (local_err) {
-                error_report_err(local_err);
-                exit(1);
-            }
+            qemu_opts_validate(opts, qemu_smbios_type1_opts, &error_fatal);
             save_opt(&type1.manufacturer, opts, "manufacturer");
             save_opt(&type1.product, opts, "product");
             save_opt(&type1.version, opts, "version");
@@ -1076,11 +1063,7 @@ void smbios_entry_add(QemuOpts *opts)
             }
             return;
         case 2:
-            qemu_opts_validate(opts, qemu_smbios_type2_opts, &local_err);
-            if (local_err) {
-                error_report_err(local_err);
-                exit(1);
-            }
+            qemu_opts_validate(opts, qemu_smbios_type2_opts, &error_fatal);
             save_opt(&type2.manufacturer, opts, "manufacturer");
             save_opt(&type2.product, opts, "product");
             save_opt(&type2.version, opts, "version");
@@ -1089,11 +1072,7 @@ void smbios_entry_add(QemuOpts *opts)
             save_opt(&type2.location, opts, "location");
             return;
         case 3:
-            qemu_opts_validate(opts, qemu_smbios_type3_opts, &local_err);
-            if (local_err) {
-                error_report_err(local_err);
-                exit(1);
-            }
+            qemu_opts_validate(opts, qemu_smbios_type3_opts, &error_fatal);
             save_opt(&type3.manufacturer, opts, "manufacturer");
             save_opt(&type3.version, opts, "version");
             save_opt(&type3.serial, opts, "serial");
@@ -1101,11 +1080,7 @@ void smbios_entry_add(QemuOpts *opts)
             save_opt(&type3.sku, opts, "sku");
             return;
         case 4:
-            qemu_opts_validate(opts, qemu_smbios_type4_opts, &local_err);
-            if (local_err) {
-                error_report_err(local_err);
-                exit(1);
-            }
+            qemu_opts_validate(opts, qemu_smbios_type4_opts, &error_fatal);
             save_opt(&type4.sock_pfx, opts, "sock_pfx");
             save_opt(&type4.manufacturer, opts, "manufacturer");
             save_opt(&type4.version, opts, "version");
@@ -1114,11 +1089,7 @@ void smbios_entry_add(QemuOpts *opts)
             save_opt(&type4.part, opts, "part");
             return;
         case 17:
-            qemu_opts_validate(opts, qemu_smbios_type17_opts, &local_err);
-            if (local_err) {
-                error_report_err(local_err);
-                exit(1);
-            }
+            qemu_opts_validate(opts, qemu_smbios_type17_opts, &error_fatal);
             save_opt(&type17.loc_pfx, opts, "loc_pfx");
             save_opt(&type17.bank, opts, "bank");
             save_opt(&type17.manufacturer, opts, "manufacturer");
diff --git a/hw/sparc64/sun4u.c b/hw/sparc64/sun4u.c
index 7a433d33a7..1925a1cef9 100644
--- a/hw/sparc64/sun4u.c
+++ b/hw/sparc64/sun4u.c
@@ -600,13 +600,14 @@ pci_ebus_init(PCIBus *bus, int devfn, qemu_irq *irqs)
     return isa_bus;
 }
 
-static int
-pci_ebus_init1(PCIDevice *pci_dev)
+static void pci_ebus_realize(PCIDevice *pci_dev, Error **errp)
 {
     EbusState *s = DO_UPCAST(EbusState, pci_dev, pci_dev);
 
-    isa_bus_new(DEVICE(pci_dev), get_system_memory(),
-                pci_address_space_io(pci_dev));
+    if (!isa_bus_new(DEVICE(pci_dev), get_system_memory(),
+                     pci_address_space_io(pci_dev), errp)) {
+        return;
+    }
 
     pci_dev->config[0x04] = 0x06; // command = bus master, pci mem
     pci_dev->config[0x05] = 0x00;
@@ -621,14 +622,13 @@ pci_ebus_init1(PCIDevice *pci_dev)
     memory_region_init_alias(&s->bar1, OBJECT(s), "bar1", get_system_io(),
                              0, 0x4000);
     pci_register_bar(pci_dev, 1, PCI_BASE_ADDRESS_SPACE_IO, &s->bar1);
-    return 0;
 }
 
 static void ebus_class_init(ObjectClass *klass, void *data)
 {
     PCIDeviceClass *k = PCI_DEVICE_CLASS(klass);
 
-    k->init = pci_ebus_init1;
+    k->realize = pci_ebus_realize;
     k->vendor_id = PCI_VENDOR_ID_SUN;
     k->device_id = PCI_DEVICE_ID_SUN_EBUS;
     k->revision = 0x01;
diff --git a/hw/timer/arm_mptimer.c b/hw/timer/arm_mptimer.c
index 3e59c2a288..5dfab669f4 100644
--- a/hw/timer/arm_mptimer.c
+++ b/hw/timer/arm_mptimer.c
@@ -220,8 +220,9 @@ static void arm_mptimer_realize(DeviceState *dev, Error **errp)
     int i;
 
     if (s->num_cpu < 1 || s->num_cpu > ARM_MPTIMER_MAX_CPUS) {
-        hw_error("%s: num-cpu must be between 1 and %d\n",
-                 __func__, ARM_MPTIMER_MAX_CPUS);
+        error_setg(errp, "num-cpu must be between 1 and %d",
+                   ARM_MPTIMER_MAX_CPUS);
+        return;
     }
     /* We implement one timer block per CPU, and expose multiple MMIO regions:
      *  * region 0 is "timer for this core"
diff --git a/hw/tpm/tpm_tis.c b/hw/tpm/tpm_tis.c
index ff073d501a..95fc66e8fc 100644
--- a/hw/tpm/tpm_tis.c
+++ b/hw/tpm/tpm_tis.c
@@ -1051,7 +1051,7 @@ static void tpm_tis_realizefn(DeviceState *dev, Error **errp)
 
     if (tis->irq_num > 15) {
         error_setg(errp, "tpm_tis: IRQ %d for TPM TIS is outside valid range "
-                   "of 0 to 15.\n", tis->irq_num);
+                   "of 0 to 15", tis->irq_num);
         return;
     }
 
diff --git a/hw/unicore32/puv3.c b/hw/unicore32/puv3.c
index 91117b2b94..1968202c82 100644
--- a/hw/unicore32/puv3.c
+++ b/hw/unicore32/puv3.c
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 #include "hw/boards.h"
 #include "hw/loader.h"
 #include "hw/i386/pc.h"
+#include "qemu/error-report.h"
 #include "sysemu/qtest.h"
 
 #undef DEBUG_PUV3
@@ -95,7 +96,8 @@ static void puv3_load_kernel(const char *kernel_filename)
     size = load_image_targphys(kernel_filename, KERNEL_LOAD_ADDR,
             KERNEL_MAX_SIZE);
     if (size < 0) {
-        hw_error("Load kernel error: '%s'\n", kernel_filename);
+        error_report("Load kernel error: '%s'", kernel_filename);
+        exit(1);
     }
 
     /* cheat curses that we have a graphic console, only under ocd console */
@@ -112,7 +114,8 @@ static void puv3_init(MachineState *machine)
     UniCore32CPU *cpu;
 
     if (initrd_filename) {
-        hw_error("Please use kernel built-in initramdisk.\n");
+        error_report("Please use kernel built-in initramdisk");
+        exit(1);
     }
 
     if (!cpu_model) {
@@ -121,7 +124,8 @@ static void puv3_init(MachineState *machine)
 
     cpu = uc32_cpu_init(cpu_model);
     if (!cpu) {
-        hw_error("Unable to find CPU definition\n");
+        error_report("Unable to find CPU definition");
+        exit(1);
     }
     env = &cpu->env;
 
diff --git a/hw/usb/bus.c b/hw/usb/bus.c
index ee6b43abc6..1bbe9302f9 100644
--- a/hw/usb/bus.c
+++ b/hw/usb/bus.c
@@ -329,9 +329,9 @@ static USBDevice *usb_try_create_simple(USBBus *bus, const char *name,
     }
     object_property_set_bool(OBJECT(dev), true, "realized", &err);
     if (err) {
-        error_setg(errp, "Failed to initialize USB device '%s': %s",
-                   name, error_get_pretty(err));
-        error_free(err);
+        error_propagate(errp, err);
+        error_prepend(errp, "Failed to initialize USB device '%s': ",
+                      name);
         object_unparent(OBJECT(dev));
         return NULL;
     }
@@ -725,9 +725,8 @@ USBDevice *usbdevice_create(const char *cmdline)
     }
     object_property_set_bool(OBJECT(dev), true, "realized", &err);
     if (err) {
-        error_report("Failed to initialize USB device '%s': %s",
-                     f->name, error_get_pretty(err));
-        error_free(err);
+        error_reportf_err(err, "Failed to initialize USB device '%s': ",
+                          f->name);
         object_unparent(OBJECT(dev));
         return NULL;
     }
diff --git a/include/hw/isa/isa.h b/include/hw/isa/isa.h
index d758b39a2e..de3cd3d38a 100644
--- a/include/hw/isa/isa.h
+++ b/include/hw/isa/isa.h
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ struct ISADevice {
 };
 
 ISABus *isa_bus_new(DeviceState *dev, MemoryRegion *address_space,
-                    MemoryRegion *address_space_io);
+                    MemoryRegion *address_space_io, Error **errp);
 void isa_bus_irqs(ISABus *bus, qemu_irq *irqs);
 qemu_irq isa_get_irq(ISADevice *dev, int isairq);
 void isa_init_irq(ISADevice *dev, qemu_irq *p, int isairq);
diff --git a/include/hw/qdev-properties.h b/include/hw/qdev-properties.h
index 77538a8ca2..254afd8859 100644
--- a/include/hw/qdev-properties.h
+++ b/include/hw/qdev-properties.h
@@ -180,8 +180,6 @@ void qdev_prop_set_chr(DeviceState *dev, const char *name, CharDriverState *valu
 void qdev_prop_set_netdev(DeviceState *dev, const char *name, NetClientState *value);
 void qdev_prop_set_drive(DeviceState *dev, const char *name,
                          BlockBackend *value, Error **errp);
-void qdev_prop_set_drive_nofail(DeviceState *dev, const char *name,
-                                BlockBackend *value);
 void qdev_prop_set_macaddr(DeviceState *dev, const char *name, uint8_t *value);
 void qdev_prop_set_enum(DeviceState *dev, const char *name, int value);
 /* FIXME: Remove opaque pointer properties.  */
diff --git a/include/qapi/error.h b/include/qapi/error.h
index 6285cf50d1..45d6c72dee 100644
--- a/include/qapi/error.h
+++ b/include/qapi/error.h
@@ -18,14 +18,27 @@
  * Create an error:
  *     error_setg(&err, "situation normal, all fouled up");
  *
+ * Create an error and add additional explanation:
+ *     error_setg(&err, "invalid quark");
+ *     error_append_hint(&err, "Valid quarks are up, down, strange, "
+ *                       "charm, top, bottom.\n");
+ *
+ * Do *not* contract this to
+ *     error_setg(&err, "invalid quark\n"
+ *                "Valid quarks are up, down, strange, charm, top, bottom.");
+ *
  * Report an error to stderr:
  *     error_report_err(err);
  * This frees the error object.
  *
+ * Report an error to stderr with additional text prepended:
+ *     error_reportf_err(err, "Could not frobnicate '%s': ", name);
+ *
  * Report an error somewhere else:
  *     const char *msg = error_get_pretty(err);
  *     do with msg what needs to be done...
  *     error_free(err);
+ * Note that this loses hints added with error_append_hint().
  *
  * Handle an error without reporting it (just for completeness):
  *     error_free(err);
@@ -38,6 +51,10 @@
  *     error_propagate(errp, err);
  * where Error **errp is a parameter, by convention the last one.
  *
+ * Pass an existing error to the caller with the message modified:
+ *     error_propagate(errp, err);
+ *     error_prepend(errp, "Could not frobnicate '%s': ", name);
+ *
  * Create a new error and pass it to the caller:
  *     error_setg(errp, "situation normal, all fouled up");
  *
@@ -76,14 +93,32 @@
  * But when all you do with the error is pass it on, please use
  *     foo(arg, errp);
  * for readability.
+ *
+ * Receive and accumulate multiple errors (first one wins):
+ *     Error *err = NULL, *local_err = NULL;
+ *     foo(arg, &err);
+ *     bar(arg, &local_err);
+ *     error_propagate(&err, local_err);
+ *     if (err) {
+ *         handle the error...
+ *     }
+ *
+ * Do *not* "optimize" this to
+ *     foo(arg, &err);
+ *     bar(arg, &err); // WRONG!
+ *     if (err) {
+ *         handle the error...
+ *     }
+ * because this may pass a non-null err to bar().
  */
 
 #ifndef ERROR_H
 #define ERROR_H
 
+#include <stdarg.h>
+#include <stdbool.h>
 #include "qemu/compiler.h"
 #include "qapi-types.h"
-#include <stdbool.h>
 
 /*
  * Opaque error object.
@@ -125,6 +160,8 @@ ErrorClass error_get_class(const Error *err);
  * If @errp is anything else, *@errp must be NULL.
  * The new error's class is ERROR_CLASS_GENERIC_ERROR, and its
  * human-readable error message is made from printf-style @fmt, ...
+ * The resulting message should be a single phrase, with no newline or
+ * trailing punctuation.
  */
 #define error_setg(errp, fmt, ...)                              \
     error_setg_internal((errp), __FILE__, __LINE__, __func__,   \
@@ -179,9 +216,26 @@ void error_setg_win32_internal(Error **errp,
  */
 void error_propagate(Error **dst_errp, Error *local_err);
 
-/**
+/*
+ * Prepend some text to @errp's human-readable error message.
+ * The text is made by formatting @fmt, @ap like vprintf().
+ */
+void error_vprepend(Error **errp, const char *fmt, va_list ap);
+
+/*
+ * Prepend some text to @errp's human-readable error message.
+ * The text is made by formatting @fmt, ... like printf().
+ */
+void error_prepend(Error **errp, const char *fmt, ...)
+    GCC_FMT_ATTR(2, 3);
+
+/*
  * Append a printf-style human-readable explanation to an existing error.
- * May be called multiple times, and safe if @errp is NULL.
+ * @errp may be NULL, but not &error_fatal or &error_abort.
+ * Trivially the case if you call it only after error_setg() or
+ * error_propagate().
+ * May be called multiple times.  The resulting hint should end with a
+ * newline.
  */
 void error_append_hint(Error **errp, const char *fmt, ...)
     GCC_FMT_ATTR(2, 3);
@@ -215,7 +269,13 @@ void error_free_or_abort(Error **errp);
 /*
  * Convenience function to error_report() and free @err.
  */
-void error_report_err(Error *);
+void error_report_err(Error *err);
+
+/*
+ * Convenience function to error_prepend(), error_report() and free @err.
+ */
+void error_reportf_err(Error *err, const char *fmt, ...)
+    GCC_FMT_ATTR(2, 3);
 
 /*
  * Just like error_setg(), except you get to specify the error class.
diff --git a/include/qemu/sockets.h b/include/qemu/sockets.h
index 74c692d432..2e7f98518e 100644
--- a/include/qemu/sockets.h
+++ b/include/qemu/sockets.h
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ int recv_all(int fd, void *buf, int len1, bool single_read);
 /* callback function for nonblocking connect
  * valid fd on success, negative error code on failure
  */
-typedef void NonBlockingConnectHandler(int fd, Error *errp, void *opaque);
+typedef void NonBlockingConnectHandler(int fd, Error *err, void *opaque);
 
 InetSocketAddress *inet_parse(const char *str, Error **errp);
 int inet_listen_opts(QemuOpts *opts, int port_offset, Error **errp);
diff --git a/kvm-all.c b/kvm-all.c
index bd9e7641b2..9148889921 100644
--- a/kvm-all.c
+++ b/kvm-all.c
@@ -2063,9 +2063,9 @@ void kvm_device_access(int fd, int group, uint64_t attr,
                            write ? KVM_SET_DEVICE_ATTR : KVM_GET_DEVICE_ATTR,
                            &kvmattr);
     if (err < 0) {
-        error_report("KVM_%s_DEVICE_ATTR failed: %s\n"
-                     "Group %d attr 0x%016" PRIx64, write ? "SET" : "GET",
-                     strerror(-err), group, attr);
+        error_report("KVM_%s_DEVICE_ATTR failed: %s",
+                     write ? "SET" : "GET", strerror(-err));
+        error_printf("Group %d attr 0x%016" PRIx64, group, attr);
         abort();
     }
 }
diff --git a/migration/ram.c b/migration/ram.c
index 2da3b51e30..4e606ab1a4 100644
--- a/migration/ram.c
+++ b/migration/ram.c
@@ -2325,7 +2325,7 @@ static int ram_load_postcopy(QEMUFile *f)
             } else {
                 /* not the 1st TP within the HP */
                 if (host != (last_host + TARGET_PAGE_SIZE)) {
-                    error_report("Non-sequential target page %p/%p\n",
+                    error_report("Non-sequential target page %p/%p",
                                   host, last_host);
                     ret = -EINVAL;
                     break;
diff --git a/migration/savevm.c b/migration/savevm.c
index c469bad65c..b9caf597dc 100644
--- a/migration/savevm.c
+++ b/migration/savevm.c
@@ -1571,8 +1571,8 @@ static int loadvm_handle_cmd_packaged(MigrationIncomingState *mis)
     ret = qemu_get_buffer(mis->from_src_file, buffer, (int)length);
     if (ret != length) {
         g_free(buffer);
-        error_report("CMD_PACKAGED: Buffer receive fail ret=%d length=%d\n",
-                ret, length);
+        error_report("CMD_PACKAGED: Buffer receive fail ret=%d length=%d",
+                     ret, length);
         return (ret < 0) ? ret : -EAGAIN;
     }
     trace_loadvm_handle_cmd_packaged_received(ret);
@@ -1935,10 +1935,9 @@ void hmp_savevm(Monitor *mon, const QDict *qdict)
 
     /* Delete old snapshots of the same name */
     if (name && bdrv_all_delete_snapshot(name, &bs1, &local_err) < 0) {
-        monitor_printf(mon,
-                       "Error while deleting snapshot on device '%s': %s\n",
-                       bdrv_get_device_name(bs1), error_get_pretty(local_err));
-        error_free(local_err);
+        error_reportf_err(local_err,
+                          "Error while deleting snapshot on device '%s': ",
+                          bdrv_get_device_name(bs1));
         return;
     }
 
@@ -1992,8 +1991,7 @@ void hmp_savevm(Monitor *mon, const QDict *qdict)
     vm_state_size = qemu_ftell(f);
     qemu_fclose(f);
     if (ret < 0) {
-        monitor_printf(mon, "%s\n", error_get_pretty(local_err));
-        error_free(local_err);
+        error_report_err(local_err);
         goto the_end;
     }
 
@@ -2117,10 +2115,9 @@ void hmp_delvm(Monitor *mon, const QDict *qdict)
     const char *name = qdict_get_str(qdict, "name");
 
     if (bdrv_all_delete_snapshot(name, &bs, &err) < 0) {
-        monitor_printf(mon,
-                       "Error while deleting snapshot on device '%s': %s\n",
-                       bdrv_get_device_name(bs), error_get_pretty(err));
-        error_free(err);
+        error_reportf_err(err,
+                          "Error while deleting snapshot on device '%s': ",
+                          bdrv_get_device_name(bs));
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/monitor.c b/monitor.c
index e7e7ae2c5e..c53a453c7c 100644
--- a/monitor.c
+++ b/monitor.c
@@ -1464,8 +1464,7 @@ static void hmp_boot_set(Monitor *mon, const QDict *qdict)
 
     qemu_boot_set(bootdevice, &local_err);
     if (local_err) {
-        monitor_printf(mon, "%s\n", error_get_pretty(local_err));
-        error_free(local_err);
+        error_report_err(local_err);
     } else {
         monitor_printf(mon, "boot device list now set to %s\n", bootdevice);
     }
@@ -4149,8 +4148,7 @@ static void bdrv_password_cb(void *opaque, const char *password,
 
     bdrv_add_key(bs, password, &local_err);
     if (local_err) {
-        monitor_printf(mon, "%s\n", error_get_pretty(local_err));
-        error_free(local_err);
+        error_report_err(local_err);
         ret = -EPERM;
     }
     if (mon->password_completion_cb)
diff --git a/net/vhost-user.c b/net/vhost-user.c
index b368a90219..e4dd089c5c 100644
--- a/net/vhost-user.c
+++ b/net/vhost-user.c
@@ -82,15 +82,15 @@ static int vhost_user_start(int queues, NetClientState *ncs[])
         options.opaque      = s->chr;
         s->vhost_net = vhost_net_init(&options);
         if (!s->vhost_net) {
-            error_report("failed to init vhost_net for queue %d\n", i);
+            error_report("failed to init vhost_net for queue %d", i);
             goto err;
         }
 
         if (i == 0) {
             max_queues = vhost_net_get_max_queues(s->vhost_net);
             if (queues > max_queues) {
-                error_report("you are asking more queues than "
-                             "supported: %d\n", max_queues);
+                error_report("you are asking more queues than supported: %d",
+                             max_queues);
                 goto err;
             }
         }
diff --git a/numa.c b/numa.c
index 17109461ce..425ef8dc21 100644
--- a/numa.c
+++ b/numa.c
@@ -450,17 +450,13 @@ void memory_region_allocate_system_memory(MemoryRegion *mr, Object *owner,
 
     memory_region_init(mr, owner, name, ram_size);
     for (i = 0; i < MAX_NODES; i++) {
-        Error *local_err = NULL;
         uint64_t size = numa_info[i].node_mem;
         HostMemoryBackend *backend = numa_info[i].node_memdev;
         if (!backend) {
             continue;
         }
-        MemoryRegion *seg = host_memory_backend_get_memory(backend, &local_err);
-        if (local_err) {
-            error_report_err(local_err);
-            exit(1);
-        }
+        MemoryRegion *seg = host_memory_backend_get_memory(backend,
+                                                           &error_fatal);
 
         if (memory_region_is_mapped(seg)) {
             char *path = object_get_canonical_path_component(OBJECT(backend));
diff --git a/qdev-monitor.c b/qdev-monitor.c
index a35098f711..3ce47109e3 100644
--- a/qdev-monitor.c
+++ b/qdev-monitor.c
@@ -266,8 +266,7 @@ int qdev_device_help(QemuOpts *opts)
     return 1;
 
 error:
-    error_printf("%s\n", error_get_pretty(local_err));
-    error_free(local_err);
+    error_report_err(local_err);
     return 1;
 }
 
@@ -304,6 +303,7 @@ static void qbus_list_bus(DeviceState *dev, Error **errp)
         error_append_hint(errp, "%s\"%s\"", sep, child->name);
         sep = ", ";
     }
+    error_append_hint(errp, "\n");
 }
 
 static void qbus_list_dev(BusState *bus, Error **errp)
@@ -321,6 +321,7 @@ static void qbus_list_dev(BusState *bus, Error **errp)
         }
         sep = ", ";
     }
+    error_append_hint(errp, "\n");
 }
 
 static BusState *qbus_find_bus(DeviceState *dev, char *elem)
diff --git a/qemu-img.c b/qemu-img.c
index 3d48b4f00e..a5949e6b05 100644
--- a/qemu-img.c
+++ b/qemu-img.c
@@ -213,9 +213,7 @@ static BlockBackend *img_open(const char *id, const char *filename,
 
     blk = blk_new_open(id, filename, NULL, options, flags, &local_err);
     if (!blk) {
-        error_report("Could not open '%s': %s", filename,
-                     error_get_pretty(local_err));
-        error_free(local_err);
+        error_reportf_err(local_err, "Could not open '%s': ", filename);
         goto fail;
     }
 
@@ -360,8 +358,7 @@ static int img_create(int argc, char **argv)
     bdrv_img_create(filename, fmt, base_filename, base_fmt,
                     options, img_size, BDRV_O_FLAGS, &local_err, quiet);
     if (local_err) {
-        error_report("%s: %s", filename, error_get_pretty(local_err));
-        error_free(local_err);
+        error_reportf_err(local_err, "%s: ", filename);
         goto fail;
     }
 
@@ -1711,9 +1708,7 @@ static int img_convert(int argc, char **argv)
         bdrv_snapshot_load_tmp_by_id_or_name(bs[0], snapshot_name, &local_err);
     }
     if (local_err) {
-        error_report("Failed to load snapshot: %s",
-                     error_get_pretty(local_err));
-        error_free(local_err);
+        error_reportf_err(local_err, "Failed to load snapshot: ");
         ret = -1;
         goto out;
     }
@@ -1809,9 +1804,8 @@ static int img_convert(int argc, char **argv)
         /* Create the new image */
         ret = bdrv_create(drv, out_filename, opts, &local_err);
         if (ret < 0) {
-            error_report("%s: error while converting %s: %s",
-                         out_filename, out_fmt, error_get_pretty(local_err));
-            error_free(local_err);
+            error_reportf_err(local_err, "%s: error while converting %s: ",
+                              out_filename, out_fmt);
             goto out;
         }
     }
@@ -2439,9 +2433,8 @@ static int img_snapshot(int argc, char **argv)
     case SNAPSHOT_DELETE:
         bdrv_snapshot_delete_by_id_or_name(bs, snapshot_name, &err);
         if (err) {
-            error_report("Could not delete snapshot '%s': (%s)",
-                         snapshot_name, error_get_pretty(err));
-            error_free(err);
+            error_reportf_err(err, "Could not delete snapshot '%s': ",
+                              snapshot_name);
             ret = 1;
         }
         break;
@@ -2574,9 +2567,9 @@ static int img_rebase(int argc, char **argv)
         blk_old_backing = blk_new_open("old_backing", backing_name, NULL,
                                        options, src_flags, &local_err);
         if (!blk_old_backing) {
-            error_report("Could not open old backing file '%s': %s",
-                         backing_name, error_get_pretty(local_err));
-            error_free(local_err);
+            error_reportf_err(local_err,
+                              "Could not open old backing file '%s': ",
+                              backing_name);
             goto out;
         }
 
@@ -2591,9 +2584,9 @@ static int img_rebase(int argc, char **argv)
             blk_new_backing = blk_new_open("new_backing", out_baseimg, NULL,
                                            options, src_flags, &local_err);
             if (!blk_new_backing) {
-                error_report("Could not open new backing file '%s': %s",
-                             out_baseimg, error_get_pretty(local_err));
-                error_free(local_err);
+                error_reportf_err(local_err,
+                                  "Could not open new backing file '%s': ",
+                                  out_baseimg);
                 goto out;
             }
         }
diff --git a/qemu-io.c b/qemu-io.c
index 269f17cc2c..d47228a963 100644
--- a/qemu-io.c
+++ b/qemu-io.c
@@ -57,17 +57,15 @@ static int openfile(char *name, int flags, QDict *opts)
     BlockDriverState *bs;
 
     if (qemuio_blk) {
-        fprintf(stderr, "file open already, try 'help close'\n");
+        error_report("file open already, try 'help close'");
         QDECREF(opts);
         return 1;
     }
 
     qemuio_blk = blk_new_open("hda", name, NULL, opts, flags, &local_err);
     if (!qemuio_blk) {
-        fprintf(stderr, "%s: can't open%s%s: %s\n", progname,
-                name ? " device " : "", name ?: "",
-                error_get_pretty(local_err));
-        error_free(local_err);
+        error_reportf_err(local_err, "can't open%s%s: ",
+                          name ? " device " : "", name ?: "");
         return 1;
     }
 
diff --git a/qemu-nbd.c b/qemu-nbd.c
index 65dc30c189..a4cf847976 100644
--- a/qemu-nbd.c
+++ b/qemu-nbd.c
@@ -30,7 +30,6 @@
 #include <stdarg.h>
 #include <stdio.h>
 #include <getopt.h>
-#include <err.h>
 #include <sys/types.h>
 #include <sys/socket.h>
 #include <netinet/in.h>
@@ -157,8 +156,8 @@ static int find_partition(BlockBackend *blk, int partition,
     int ret;
 
     if ((ret = blk_read(blk, 0, data, 1)) < 0) {
-        errno = -ret;
-        err(EXIT_FAILURE, "error while reading");
+        error_report("error while reading: %s", strerror(-ret));
+        exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
     }
 
     if (data[510] != 0x55 || data[511] != 0xaa) {
@@ -178,8 +177,8 @@ static int find_partition(BlockBackend *blk, int partition,
             int j;
 
             if ((ret = blk_read(blk, mbr[i].start_sector_abs, data1, 1)) < 0) {
-                errno = -ret;
-                err(EXIT_FAILURE, "error while reading");
+                error_report("error while reading: %s", strerror(-ret));
+                exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
             }
 
             for (j = 0; j < 4; j++) {
@@ -250,8 +249,7 @@ static void *nbd_client_thread(void *arg)
                                 &size, &local_error);
     if (ret < 0) {
         if (local_error) {
-            fprintf(stderr, "%s\n", error_get_pretty(local_error));
-            error_free(local_error);
+            error_report_err(local_error);
         }
         goto out_socket;
     }
@@ -259,7 +257,7 @@ static void *nbd_client_thread(void *arg)
     fd = open(device, O_RDWR);
     if (fd < 0) {
         /* Linux-only, we can use %m in printf.  */
-        fprintf(stderr, "Failed to open %s: %m\n", device);
+        error_report("Failed to open %s: %m", device);
         goto out_socket;
     }
 
@@ -454,16 +452,19 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
             /* fallthrough */
         case QEMU_NBD_OPT_CACHE:
             if (seen_cache) {
-                errx(EXIT_FAILURE, "-n and --cache can only be specified once");
+                error_report("-n and --cache can only be specified once");
+                exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
             }
             seen_cache = true;
             if (bdrv_parse_cache_flags(optarg, &flags) == -1) {
-                errx(EXIT_FAILURE, "Invalid cache mode `%s'", optarg);
+                error_report("Invalid cache mode `%s'", optarg);
+                exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
             }
             break;
         case QEMU_NBD_OPT_AIO:
             if (seen_aio) {
-                errx(EXIT_FAILURE, "--aio can only be specified once");
+                error_report("--aio can only be specified once");
+                exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
             }
             seen_aio = true;
             if (!strcmp(optarg, "native")) {
@@ -471,16 +472,19 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
             } else if (!strcmp(optarg, "threads")) {
                 /* this is the default */
             } else {
-               errx(EXIT_FAILURE, "invalid aio mode `%s'", optarg);
+               error_report("invalid aio mode `%s'", optarg);
+               exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
             }
             break;
         case QEMU_NBD_OPT_DISCARD:
             if (seen_discard) {
-                errx(EXIT_FAILURE, "--discard can only be specified once");
+                error_report("--discard can only be specified once");
+                exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
             }
             seen_discard = true;
             if (bdrv_parse_discard_flags(optarg, &flags) == -1) {
-                errx(EXIT_FAILURE, "Invalid discard mode `%s'", optarg);
+                error_report("Invalid discard mode `%s'", optarg);
+                exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
             }
             break;
         case QEMU_NBD_OPT_DETECT_ZEROES:
@@ -491,13 +495,15 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
                                 BLOCKDEV_DETECT_ZEROES_OPTIONS_OFF,
                                 &local_err);
             if (local_err) {
-                errx(EXIT_FAILURE, "Failed to parse detect_zeroes mode: %s", 
-                     error_get_pretty(local_err));
+                error_reportf_err(local_err,
+                                  "Failed to parse detect_zeroes mode: ");
+                exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
             }
             if (detect_zeroes == BLOCKDEV_DETECT_ZEROES_OPTIONS_UNMAP &&
                 !(flags & BDRV_O_UNMAP)) {
-                errx(EXIT_FAILURE, "setting detect-zeroes to unmap is not allowed "
-                                   "without setting discard operation to unmap"); 
+                error_report("setting detect-zeroes to unmap is not allowed "
+                             "without setting discard operation to unmap");
+                exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
             }
             break;
         case 'b':
@@ -509,10 +515,12 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
         case 'o':
                 dev_offset = strtoll (optarg, &end, 0);
             if (*end) {
-                errx(EXIT_FAILURE, "Invalid offset `%s'", optarg);
+                error_report("Invalid offset `%s'", optarg);
+                exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
             }
             if (dev_offset < 0) {
-                errx(EXIT_FAILURE, "Offset must be positive `%s'", optarg);
+                error_report("Offset must be positive `%s'", optarg);
+                exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
             }
             break;
         case 'l':
@@ -520,8 +528,9 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
                 sn_opts = qemu_opts_parse_noisily(&internal_snapshot_opts,
                                                   optarg, false);
                 if (!sn_opts) {
-                    errx(EXIT_FAILURE, "Failed in parsing snapshot param `%s'",
-                         optarg);
+                    error_report("Failed in parsing snapshot param `%s'",
+                                 optarg);
+                    exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
                 }
             } else {
                 sn_id_or_name = optarg;
@@ -534,16 +543,19 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
         case 'P':
             partition = strtol(optarg, &end, 0);
             if (*end) {
-                errx(EXIT_FAILURE, "Invalid partition `%s'", optarg);
+                error_report("Invalid partition `%s'", optarg);
+                exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
             }
             if (partition < 1 || partition > 8) {
-                errx(EXIT_FAILURE, "Invalid partition %d", partition);
+                error_report("Invalid partition %d", partition);
+                exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
             }
             break;
         case 'k':
             sockpath = optarg;
             if (sockpath[0] != '/') {
-                errx(EXIT_FAILURE, "socket path must be absolute\n");
+                error_report("socket path must be absolute");
+                exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
             }
             break;
         case 'd':
@@ -555,10 +567,12 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
         case 'e':
             shared = strtol(optarg, &end, 0);
             if (*end) {
-                errx(EXIT_FAILURE, "Invalid shared device number '%s'", optarg);
+                error_report("Invalid shared device number '%s'", optarg);
+                exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
             }
             if (shared < 1) {
-                errx(EXIT_FAILURE, "Shared device number must be greater than 0\n");
+                error_report("Shared device number must be greater than 0");
+                exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
             }
             break;
         case 'f':
@@ -579,21 +593,23 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
             exit(0);
             break;
         case '?':
-            errx(EXIT_FAILURE, "Try `%s --help' for more information.",
-                 argv[0]);
+            error_report("Try `%s --help' for more information.", argv[0]);
+            exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
         }
     }
 
     if ((argc - optind) != 1) {
-        errx(EXIT_FAILURE, "Invalid number of argument.\n"
-             "Try `%s --help' for more information.",
-             argv[0]);
+        error_report("Invalid number of arguments");
+        error_printf("Try `%s --help' for more information.\n", argv[0]);
+        exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
     }
 
     if (disconnect) {
         fd = open(argv[optind], O_RDWR);
         if (fd < 0) {
-            err(EXIT_FAILURE, "Cannot open %s", argv[optind]);
+            error_report("Cannot open %s: %s", argv[optind],
+                         strerror(errno));
+            exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
         }
         nbd_disconnect(fd);
 
@@ -610,7 +626,9 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
         int ret;
 
         if (qemu_pipe(stderr_fd) < 0) {
-            err(EXIT_FAILURE, "Error setting up communication pipe");
+            error_report("Error setting up communication pipe: %s",
+                         strerror(errno));
+            exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
         }
 
         /* Now daemonize, but keep a communication channel open to
@@ -618,7 +636,8 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
          */
         pid = fork();
         if (pid < 0) {
-            err(EXIT_FAILURE, "Failed to fork");
+            error_report("Failed to fork: %s", strerror(errno));
+            exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
         } else if (pid == 0) {
             close(stderr_fd[0]);
             ret = qemu_daemon(1, 0);
@@ -626,7 +645,8 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
             /* Temporarily redirect stderr to the parent's pipe...  */
             dup2(stderr_fd[1], STDERR_FILENO);
             if (ret < 0) {
-                err(EXIT_FAILURE, "Failed to daemonize");
+                error_report("Failed to daemonize: %s", strerror(errno));
+                exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
             }
 
             /* ... close the descriptor we inherited and go on.  */
@@ -648,7 +668,9 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
                 }
             }
             if (ret < 0) {
-                err(EXIT_FAILURE, "Cannot read from daemon");
+                error_report("Cannot read from daemon: %s",
+                             strerror(errno));
+                exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
             }
 
             /* Usually the daemon should not print any message.
@@ -680,8 +702,9 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
     srcpath = argv[optind];
     blk = blk_new_open("hda", srcpath, NULL, options, flags, &local_err);
     if (!blk) {
-        errx(EXIT_FAILURE, "Failed to blk_new_open '%s': %s", argv[optind],
-             error_get_pretty(local_err));
+        error_reportf_err(local_err, "Failed to blk_new_open '%s': ",
+                          argv[optind]);
+        exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
     }
     bs = blk_bs(blk);
 
@@ -695,31 +718,32 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
                                                    &local_err);
     }
     if (ret < 0) {
-        errno = -ret;
-        err(EXIT_FAILURE,
-            "Failed to load snapshot: %s",
-            error_get_pretty(local_err));
+        error_reportf_err(local_err, "Failed to load snapshot: ");
+        exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
     }
 
     bs->detect_zeroes = detect_zeroes;
     fd_size = blk_getlength(blk);
     if (fd_size < 0) {
-        errx(EXIT_FAILURE, "Failed to determine the image length: %s",
-             strerror(-fd_size));
+        error_report("Failed to determine the image length: %s",
+                     strerror(-fd_size));
+        exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
     }
 
     if (partition != -1) {
         ret = find_partition(blk, partition, &dev_offset, &fd_size);
         if (ret < 0) {
-            errno = -ret;
-            err(EXIT_FAILURE, "Could not find partition %d", partition);
+            error_report("Could not find partition %d: %s", partition,
+                         strerror(-ret));
+            exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
         }
     }
 
     exp = nbd_export_new(blk, dev_offset, fd_size, nbdflags, nbd_export_closed,
                          &local_err);
     if (!exp) {
-        errx(EXIT_FAILURE, "%s", error_get_pretty(local_err));
+        error_report_err(local_err);
+        exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
     }
 
     fd = socket_listen(saddr, &local_err);
@@ -733,8 +757,8 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 
         ret = pthread_create(&client_thread, NULL, nbd_client_thread, device);
         if (ret != 0) {
-            errx(EXIT_FAILURE, "Failed to create client thread: %s",
-                 strerror(ret));
+            error_report("Failed to create client thread: %s", strerror(ret));
+            exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
         }
     } else {
         /* Shut up GCC warnings.  */
@@ -747,7 +771,9 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
     /* now when the initialization is (almost) complete, chdir("/")
      * to free any busy filesystems */
     if (chdir("/") < 0) {
-        err(EXIT_FAILURE, "Could not chdir to root directory");
+        error_report("Could not chdir to root directory: %s",
+                     strerror(errno));
+        exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
     }
 
     state = RUNNING;
diff --git a/qga/commands-posix.c b/qga/commands-posix.c
index 8fe708f001..5f91275484 100644
--- a/qga/commands-posix.c
+++ b/qga/commands-posix.c
@@ -2254,7 +2254,7 @@ GuestMemoryBlockList *qmp_guest_get_memory_blocks(Error **errp)
          */
         if (errno != ENOENT) {
             error_setg_errno(errp, errno, "Can't open directory"
-                             "\"/sys/devices/system/memory/\"\n");
+                             "\"/sys/devices/system/memory/\"");
         }
         return NULL;
     }
diff --git a/replay/replay.c b/replay/replay.c
index 0d33e82c95..e4673b3d92 100644
--- a/replay/replay.c
+++ b/replay/replay.c
@@ -291,8 +291,7 @@ void replay_start(void)
     }
 
     if (replay_blockers) {
-        error_report("Record/replay: %s",
-                     error_get_pretty(replay_blockers->data));
+        error_reportf_err(replay_blockers->data, "Record/replay: ");
         exit(1);
     }
     if (!use_icount) {
diff --git a/scripts/checkpatch.pl b/scripts/checkpatch.pl
index efca817b9b..257126f91b 100755
--- a/scripts/checkpatch.pl
+++ b/scripts/checkpatch.pl
@@ -2498,6 +2498,42 @@ sub process {
 			WARN("use QEMU instead of Qemu or QEmu\n" . $herecurr);
 		}
 
+# Qemu error function tests
+
+	# Find newlines in error messages
+	my $qemu_error_funcs = qr{error_setg|
+				error_setg_errno|
+				error_setg_win32|
+				error_set|
+				error_vreport|
+				error_report}x;
+
+	if ($rawline =~ /\b(?:$qemu_error_funcs)\s*\(\s*\".*\\n/) {
+		WARN("Error messages should not contain newlines\n" . $herecurr);
+	}
+
+	# Continue checking for error messages that contains newlines. This
+	# check handles cases where string literals are spread over multiple lines.
+	# Example:
+	# error_report("Error msg line #1"
+	#              "Error msg line #2\n");
+	my $quoted_newline_regex = qr{\+\s*\".*\\n.*\"};
+	my $continued_str_literal = qr{\+\s*\".*\"};
+
+	if ($rawline =~ /$quoted_newline_regex/) {
+		# Backtrack to first line that does not contain only a quoted literal
+		# and assume that it is the start of the statement.
+		my $i = $linenr - 2;
+
+		while (($i >= 0) & $rawlines[$i] =~ /$continued_str_literal/) {
+			$i--;
+		}
+
+		if ($rawlines[$i] =~ /\b(?:$qemu_error_funcs)\s*\(/) {
+			WARN("Error messages should not contain newlines\n" . $herecurr);
+		}
+	}
+
 # check for non-portable ffs() calls that have portable alternatives in QEMU
 		if ($line =~ /\bffs\(/) {
 			ERROR("use ctz32() instead of ffs()\n" . $herecurr);
diff --git a/target-arm/cpu.c b/target-arm/cpu.c
index 35a1f12661..775e0a46bd 100644
--- a/target-arm/cpu.c
+++ b/target-arm/cpu.c
@@ -649,7 +649,7 @@ static void arm_cpu_realizefn(DeviceState *dev, Error **errp)
         uint32_t nr = cpu->pmsav7_dregion;
 
         if (nr > 0xff) {
-            error_setg(errp, "PMSAv7 MPU #regions invalid %" PRIu32 "\n", nr);
+            error_setg(errp, "PMSAv7 MPU #regions invalid %" PRIu32, nr);
             return;
         }
 
diff --git a/target-arm/machine.c b/target-arm/machine.c
index 36a0d159cc..b1e1418a6e 100644
--- a/target-arm/machine.c
+++ b/target-arm/machine.c
@@ -337,11 +337,11 @@ const char *gicv3_class_name(void)
         return "kvm-arm-gicv3";
 #else
         error_report("KVM GICv3 acceleration is not supported on this "
-                     "platform\n");
+                     "platform");
 #endif
     } else {
         /* TODO: Software emulation is not implemented yet */
-        error_report("KVM is currently required for GICv3 emulation\n");
+        error_report("KVM is currently required for GICv3 emulation");
     }
 
     exit(1);
diff --git a/tests/qemu-iotests/059.out b/tests/qemu-iotests/059.out
index 00057fef9b..9d506cb80c 100644
--- a/tests/qemu-iotests/059.out
+++ b/tests/qemu-iotests/059.out
@@ -2,17 +2,17 @@ QA output created by 059
 
 === Testing invalid granularity ===
 Formatting 'TEST_DIR/t.IMGFMT', fmt=IMGFMT size=67108864
-qemu-io: can't open device TEST_DIR/t.vmdk: Invalid granularity, image may be corrupt
+can't open device TEST_DIR/t.vmdk: Invalid granularity, image may be corrupt
 no file open, try 'help open'
 
 === Testing too big L2 table size ===
 Formatting 'TEST_DIR/t.IMGFMT', fmt=IMGFMT size=67108864
-qemu-io: can't open device TEST_DIR/t.vmdk: L2 table size too big
+can't open device TEST_DIR/t.vmdk: L2 table size too big
 no file open, try 'help open'
 
 === Testing too big L1 table size ===
 Formatting 'TEST_DIR/t.IMGFMT', fmt=IMGFMT size=67108864
-qemu-io: can't open device TEST_DIR/t.vmdk: L1 size too big
+can't open device TEST_DIR/t.vmdk: L1 size too big
 no file open, try 'help open'
 
 === Testing monolithicFlat creation and opening ===
@@ -2038,9 +2038,7 @@ Format specific information:
             format: FLAT
 
 === Testing malformed VMFS extent description line ===
-qemu-img: Could not open 'TEST_DIR/t.IMGFMT': Invalid extent lines:
-RW 12582912 VMFS "dummy.IMGFMT" 1
-
+qemu-img: Could not open 'TEST_DIR/t.IMGFMT': Invalid extent line: RW 12582912 VMFS "dummy.IMGFMT" 1
 
 === Testing truncated sparse ===
 Formatting 'TEST_DIR/t.IMGFMT', fmt=IMGFMT size=107374182400 subformat=monolithicSparse
@@ -2055,7 +2053,7 @@ wrote 512/512 bytes at offset 10240
 
 === Testing monolithicFlat with internally generated JSON file name ===
 Formatting 'TEST_DIR/t.IMGFMT', fmt=IMGFMT size=67108864 subformat=monolithicFlat
-qemu-io: can't open: Cannot use relative extent paths with VMDK descriptor file 'json:{"image": {"driver": "file", "filename": "TEST_DIR/t.IMGFMT"}, "driver": "blkdebug", "inject-error.0.event": "read_aio"}'
+can't open: Cannot use relative extent paths with VMDK descriptor file 'json:{"image": {"driver": "file", "filename": "TEST_DIR/t.IMGFMT"}, "driver": "blkdebug", "inject-error.0.event": "read_aio"}'
 
 === Testing version 3 ===
 image: TEST_DIR/iotest-version3.IMGFMT
diff --git a/tests/qemu-iotests/060.out b/tests/qemu-iotests/060.out
index 751118951f..5d40206ef8 100644
--- a/tests/qemu-iotests/060.out
+++ b/tests/qemu-iotests/060.out
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ Format specific information:
     lazy refcounts: false
     refcount bits: 16
     corrupt: true
-qemu-io: can't open device TEST_DIR/t.IMGFMT: IMGFMT: Image is corrupt; cannot be opened read/write
+can't open device TEST_DIR/t.IMGFMT: IMGFMT: Image is corrupt; cannot be opened read/write
 read 512/512 bytes at offset 0
 512 bytes, X ops; XX:XX:XX.X (XXX YYY/sec and XXX ops/sec)
 
diff --git a/tests/qemu-iotests/069.out b/tests/qemu-iotests/069.out
index c78e8c2b72..f97585677b 100644
--- a/tests/qemu-iotests/069.out
+++ b/tests/qemu-iotests/069.out
@@ -4,5 +4,5 @@ QA output created by 069
 
 Formatting 'TEST_DIR/t.IMGFMT.base', fmt=IMGFMT size=131072
 Formatting 'TEST_DIR/t.IMGFMT', fmt=IMGFMT size=131072 backing_file=TEST_DIR/t.IMGFMT.base
-qemu-io: can't open device TEST_DIR/t.IMGFMT: Could not open backing file: Could not open 'TEST_DIR/t.IMGFMT.base': No such file or directory
+can't open device TEST_DIR/t.IMGFMT: Could not open backing file: Could not open 'TEST_DIR/t.IMGFMT.base': No such file or directory
 *** done
diff --git a/tests/qemu-iotests/070.out b/tests/qemu-iotests/070.out
index ca743831c9..131a5b17dc 100644
--- a/tests/qemu-iotests/070.out
+++ b/tests/qemu-iotests/070.out
@@ -1,8 +1,9 @@
 QA output created by 070
 
 === Verify open image read-only fails, due to dirty log ===
-qemu-io: can't open device TEST_DIR/iotest-dirtylog-10G-4M.vhdx: VHDX image file 'TEST_DIR/iotest-dirtylog-10G-4M.vhdx' opened read-only, but contains a log that needs to be replayed.  To replay the log, execute:
- qemu-img check -r all 'TEST_DIR/iotest-dirtylog-10G-4M.vhdx': Operation not permitted
+can't open device TEST_DIR/iotest-dirtylog-10G-4M.vhdx: VHDX image file 'TEST_DIR/iotest-dirtylog-10G-4M.vhdx' opened read-only, but contains a log that needs to be replayed
+To replay the log, run:
+qemu-img check -r all 'TEST_DIR/iotest-dirtylog-10G-4M.vhdx'
  no file open, try 'help open'
 === Verify open image replays log  ===
 read 18874368/18874368 bytes at offset 0
diff --git a/tests/qemu-iotests/075.out b/tests/qemu-iotests/075.out
index 5f1d6c120a..87beae4e3c 100644
--- a/tests/qemu-iotests/075.out
+++ b/tests/qemu-iotests/075.out
@@ -9,30 +9,30 @@ read 512/512 bytes at offset 1048064
 512 bytes, X ops; XX:XX:XX.X (XXX YYY/sec and XXX ops/sec)
 
 == block_size must be a multiple of 512 ==
-qemu-io: can't open device TEST_DIR/simple-pattern.cloop: block_size 513 must be a multiple of 512
+can't open device TEST_DIR/simple-pattern.cloop: block_size 513 must be a multiple of 512
 no file open, try 'help open'
 
 == block_size cannot be zero ==
-qemu-io: can't open device TEST_DIR/simple-pattern.cloop: block_size cannot be zero
+can't open device TEST_DIR/simple-pattern.cloop: block_size cannot be zero
 no file open, try 'help open'
 
 == huge block_size ===
-qemu-io: can't open device TEST_DIR/simple-pattern.cloop: block_size 4294966784 must be 64 MB or less
+can't open device TEST_DIR/simple-pattern.cloop: block_size 4294966784 must be 64 MB or less
 no file open, try 'help open'
 
 == offsets_size overflow ===
-qemu-io: can't open device TEST_DIR/simple-pattern.cloop: n_blocks 4294967295 must be 536870911 or less
+can't open device TEST_DIR/simple-pattern.cloop: n_blocks 4294967295 must be 536870911 or less
 no file open, try 'help open'
 
 == refuse images that require too many offsets ===
-qemu-io: can't open device TEST_DIR/simple-pattern.cloop: image requires too many offsets, try increasing block size
+can't open device TEST_DIR/simple-pattern.cloop: image requires too many offsets, try increasing block size
 no file open, try 'help open'
 
 == refuse images with non-monotonically increasing offsets ==
-qemu-io: can't open device TEST_DIR/simple-pattern.cloop: offsets not monotonically increasing at index 1, image file is corrupt
+can't open device TEST_DIR/simple-pattern.cloop: offsets not monotonically increasing at index 1, image file is corrupt
 no file open, try 'help open'
 
 == refuse images with invalid compressed block size ==
-qemu-io: can't open device TEST_DIR/simple-pattern.cloop: invalid compressed block size at index 1, image file is corrupt
+can't open device TEST_DIR/simple-pattern.cloop: invalid compressed block size at index 1, image file is corrupt
 no file open, try 'help open'
 *** done
diff --git a/tests/qemu-iotests/076.out b/tests/qemu-iotests/076.out
index b0000aeedd..72645b2522 100644
--- a/tests/qemu-iotests/076.out
+++ b/tests/qemu-iotests/076.out
@@ -5,15 +5,15 @@ read 65536/65536 bytes at offset 0
 64 KiB, X ops; XX:XX:XX.X (XXX YYY/sec and XXX ops/sec)
 
 == Negative catalog size ==
-qemu-io: can't open device TEST_DIR/parallels-v1: Catalog too large
+can't open device TEST_DIR/parallels-v1: Catalog too large
 no file open, try 'help open'
 
 == Overflow in catalog allocation ==
-qemu-io: can't open device TEST_DIR/parallels-v1: Catalog too large
+can't open device TEST_DIR/parallels-v1: Catalog too large
 no file open, try 'help open'
 
 == Zero sectors per track ==
-qemu-io: can't open device TEST_DIR/parallels-v1: Invalid image: Zero sectors per track
+can't open device TEST_DIR/parallels-v1: Invalid image: Zero sectors per track
 no file open, try 'help open'
 
 == Read from a valid v2 image ==
diff --git a/tests/qemu-iotests/078.out b/tests/qemu-iotests/078.out
index ca18d2ea38..42b8a83015 100644
--- a/tests/qemu-iotests/078.out
+++ b/tests/qemu-iotests/078.out
@@ -5,24 +5,24 @@ read 512/512 bytes at offset 0
 512 bytes, X ops; XX:XX:XX.X (XXX YYY/sec and XXX ops/sec)
 
 == Negative catalog size ==
-qemu-io: can't open device TEST_DIR/empty.bochs: Catalog size is too large
+can't open device TEST_DIR/empty.bochs: Catalog size is too large
 no file open, try 'help open'
 
 == Overflow for catalog size * sizeof(uint32_t) ==
-qemu-io: can't open device TEST_DIR/empty.bochs: Catalog size is too large
+can't open device TEST_DIR/empty.bochs: Catalog size is too large
 no file open, try 'help open'
 
 == Too small catalog bitmap for image size ==
-qemu-io: can't open device TEST_DIR/empty.bochs: Catalog size is too small for this disk size
+can't open device TEST_DIR/empty.bochs: Catalog size is too small for this disk size
 no file open, try 'help open'
-qemu-io: can't open device TEST_DIR/empty.bochs: Catalog size is too small for this disk size
+can't open device TEST_DIR/empty.bochs: Catalog size is too small for this disk size
 no file open, try 'help open'
 
 == Negative extent size ==
-qemu-io: can't open device TEST_DIR/empty.bochs: Extent size 2147483648 is too large
+can't open device TEST_DIR/empty.bochs: Extent size 2147483648 is too large
 no file open, try 'help open'
 
 == Zero extent size ==
-qemu-io: can't open device TEST_DIR/empty.bochs: Extent size must be at least 512
+can't open device TEST_DIR/empty.bochs: Extent size must be at least 512
 no file open, try 'help open'
 *** done
diff --git a/tests/qemu-iotests/080.out b/tests/qemu-iotests/080.out
index 6061d84432..0daac48b12 100644
--- a/tests/qemu-iotests/080.out
+++ b/tests/qemu-iotests/080.out
@@ -2,46 +2,46 @@ QA output created by 080
 
 == Huge header size ==
 Formatting 'TEST_DIR/t.IMGFMT', fmt=IMGFMT size=67108864
-qemu-io: can't open device TEST_DIR/t.qcow2: qcow2 header exceeds cluster size
+can't open device TEST_DIR/t.qcow2: qcow2 header exceeds cluster size
 no file open, try 'help open'
-qemu-io: can't open device TEST_DIR/t.qcow2: qcow2 header exceeds cluster size
+can't open device TEST_DIR/t.qcow2: qcow2 header exceeds cluster size
 no file open, try 'help open'
 
 == Huge unknown header extension ==
 Formatting 'TEST_DIR/t.IMGFMT', fmt=IMGFMT size=67108864
-qemu-io: can't open device TEST_DIR/t.qcow2: Invalid backing file offset
+can't open device TEST_DIR/t.qcow2: Invalid backing file offset
 no file open, try 'help open'
-qemu-io: can't open device TEST_DIR/t.qcow2: Header extension too large
+can't open device TEST_DIR/t.qcow2: Header extension too large
 no file open, try 'help open'
-qemu-io: can't open device TEST_DIR/t.qcow2: Header extension too large
+can't open device TEST_DIR/t.qcow2: Header extension too large
 no file open, try 'help open'
 
 == Huge refcount table size ==
 Formatting 'TEST_DIR/t.IMGFMT', fmt=IMGFMT size=67108864
-qemu-io: can't open device TEST_DIR/t.qcow2: Reference count table too large
+can't open device TEST_DIR/t.qcow2: Reference count table too large
 no file open, try 'help open'
-qemu-io: can't open device TEST_DIR/t.qcow2: Reference count table too large
+can't open device TEST_DIR/t.qcow2: Reference count table too large
 no file open, try 'help open'
 
 == Misaligned refcount table ==
 Formatting 'TEST_DIR/t.IMGFMT', fmt=IMGFMT size=67108864
-qemu-io: can't open device TEST_DIR/t.qcow2: Invalid reference count table offset
+can't open device TEST_DIR/t.qcow2: Invalid reference count table offset
 no file open, try 'help open'
 
 == Huge refcount offset ==
 Formatting 'TEST_DIR/t.IMGFMT', fmt=IMGFMT size=67108864
-qemu-io: can't open device TEST_DIR/t.qcow2: Invalid reference count table offset
+can't open device TEST_DIR/t.qcow2: Invalid reference count table offset
 no file open, try 'help open'
 
 == Invalid snapshot table ==
 Formatting 'TEST_DIR/t.IMGFMT', fmt=IMGFMT size=67108864
-qemu-io: can't open device TEST_DIR/t.qcow2: Too many snapshots
+can't open device TEST_DIR/t.qcow2: Too many snapshots
 no file open, try 'help open'
-qemu-io: can't open device TEST_DIR/t.qcow2: Too many snapshots
+can't open device TEST_DIR/t.qcow2: Too many snapshots
 no file open, try 'help open'
-qemu-io: can't open device TEST_DIR/t.qcow2: Invalid snapshot table offset
+can't open device TEST_DIR/t.qcow2: Invalid snapshot table offset
 no file open, try 'help open'
-qemu-io: can't open device TEST_DIR/t.qcow2: Invalid snapshot table offset
+can't open device TEST_DIR/t.qcow2: Invalid snapshot table offset
 no file open, try 'help open'
 
 == Hitting snapshot table size limit ==
@@ -52,13 +52,13 @@ read 512/512 bytes at offset 0
 
 == Invalid L1 table ==
 Formatting 'TEST_DIR/t.IMGFMT', fmt=IMGFMT size=67108864
-qemu-io: can't open device TEST_DIR/t.qcow2: Active L1 table too large
+can't open device TEST_DIR/t.qcow2: Active L1 table too large
 no file open, try 'help open'
-qemu-io: can't open device TEST_DIR/t.qcow2: Active L1 table too large
+can't open device TEST_DIR/t.qcow2: Active L1 table too large
 no file open, try 'help open'
-qemu-io: can't open device TEST_DIR/t.qcow2: Invalid L1 table offset
+can't open device TEST_DIR/t.qcow2: Invalid L1 table offset
 no file open, try 'help open'
-qemu-io: can't open device TEST_DIR/t.qcow2: Invalid L1 table offset
+can't open device TEST_DIR/t.qcow2: Invalid L1 table offset
 no file open, try 'help open'
 
 == Invalid L1 table (with internal snapshot in the image) ==
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ qemu-img: Could not open 'TEST_DIR/t.IMGFMT': L1 table is too small
 
 == Invalid backing file size ==
 Formatting 'TEST_DIR/t.IMGFMT', fmt=IMGFMT size=67108864
-qemu-io: can't open device TEST_DIR/t.qcow2: Backing file name too long
+can't open device TEST_DIR/t.qcow2: Backing file name too long
 no file open, try 'help open'
 
 == Invalid L2 entry (huge physical offset) ==
diff --git a/tests/qemu-iotests/083.out b/tests/qemu-iotests/083.out
index 8c1441bf4f..78cc49ad91 100644
--- a/tests/qemu-iotests/083.out
+++ b/tests/qemu-iotests/083.out
@@ -1,52 +1,52 @@
 QA output created by 083
 === Check disconnect before neg1 ===
 
-qemu-io: can't open device nbd:127.0.0.1:PORT:exportname=foo
+can't open device nbd:127.0.0.1:PORT:exportname=foo
 no file open, try 'help open'
 
 === Check disconnect after neg1 ===
 
-qemu-io: can't open device nbd:127.0.0.1:PORT:exportname=foo
+can't open device nbd:127.0.0.1:PORT:exportname=foo
 no file open, try 'help open'
 
 === Check disconnect 8 neg1 ===
 
-qemu-io: can't open device nbd:127.0.0.1:PORT:exportname=foo
+can't open device nbd:127.0.0.1:PORT:exportname=foo
 no file open, try 'help open'
 
 === Check disconnect 16 neg1 ===
 
-qemu-io: can't open device nbd:127.0.0.1:PORT:exportname=foo
+can't open device nbd:127.0.0.1:PORT:exportname=foo
 no file open, try 'help open'
 
 === Check disconnect before export ===
 
-qemu-io: can't open device nbd:127.0.0.1:PORT:exportname=foo
+can't open device nbd:127.0.0.1:PORT:exportname=foo
 no file open, try 'help open'
 
 === Check disconnect after export ===
 
-qemu-io: can't open device nbd:127.0.0.1:PORT:exportname=foo
+can't open device nbd:127.0.0.1:PORT:exportname=foo
 no file open, try 'help open'
 
 === Check disconnect 4 export ===
 
-qemu-io: can't open device nbd:127.0.0.1:PORT:exportname=foo
+can't open device nbd:127.0.0.1:PORT:exportname=foo
 no file open, try 'help open'
 
 === Check disconnect 12 export ===
 
-qemu-io: can't open device nbd:127.0.0.1:PORT:exportname=foo
+can't open device nbd:127.0.0.1:PORT:exportname=foo
 no file open, try 'help open'
 
 === Check disconnect 16 export ===
 
-qemu-io: can't open device nbd:127.0.0.1:PORT:exportname=foo
+can't open device nbd:127.0.0.1:PORT:exportname=foo
 no file open, try 'help open'
 
 === Check disconnect before neg2 ===
 
-qemu-io: can't open device nbd:127.0.0.1:PORT:exportname=foo
+can't open device nbd:127.0.0.1:PORT:exportname=foo
 no file open, try 'help open'
 
 === Check disconnect after neg2 ===
@@ -56,12 +56,12 @@ read failed: Input/output error
 
 === Check disconnect 8 neg2 ===
 
-qemu-io: can't open device nbd:127.0.0.1:PORT:exportname=foo
+can't open device nbd:127.0.0.1:PORT:exportname=foo
 no file open, try 'help open'
 
 === Check disconnect 10 neg2 ===
 
-qemu-io: can't open device nbd:127.0.0.1:PORT:exportname=foo
+can't open device nbd:127.0.0.1:PORT:exportname=foo
 no file open, try 'help open'
 
 === Check disconnect before request ===
@@ -107,27 +107,27 @@ read 512/512 bytes at offset 0
 
 === Check disconnect before neg-classic ===
 
-qemu-io: can't open device nbd:127.0.0.1:PORT
+can't open device nbd:127.0.0.1:PORT
 no file open, try 'help open'
 
 === Check disconnect 8 neg-classic ===
 
-qemu-io: can't open device nbd:127.0.0.1:PORT
+can't open device nbd:127.0.0.1:PORT
 no file open, try 'help open'
 
 === Check disconnect 16 neg-classic ===
 
-qemu-io: can't open device nbd:127.0.0.1:PORT
+can't open device nbd:127.0.0.1:PORT
 no file open, try 'help open'
 
 === Check disconnect 24 neg-classic ===
 
-qemu-io: can't open device nbd:127.0.0.1:PORT
+can't open device nbd:127.0.0.1:PORT
 no file open, try 'help open'
 
 === Check disconnect 28 neg-classic ===
 
-qemu-io: can't open device nbd:127.0.0.1:PORT
+can't open device nbd:127.0.0.1:PORT
 no file open, try 'help open'
 
 === Check disconnect after neg-classic ===
diff --git a/tests/qemu-iotests/088.out b/tests/qemu-iotests/088.out
index 6e6bfcaf90..a2a83b8a1c 100644
--- a/tests/qemu-iotests/088.out
+++ b/tests/qemu-iotests/088.out
@@ -2,16 +2,16 @@ QA output created by 088
 
 == Invalid block size ==
 Formatting 'TEST_DIR/t.IMGFMT', fmt=IMGFMT size=67108864
-qemu-io: can't open device TEST_DIR/t.vpc: Invalid block size 0
+can't open device TEST_DIR/t.vpc: Invalid block size 0
 no file open, try 'help open'
-qemu-io: can't open device TEST_DIR/t.vpc: Invalid block size 0
+can't open device TEST_DIR/t.vpc: Invalid block size 0
 no file open, try 'help open'
-qemu-io: can't open device TEST_DIR/t.vpc: Invalid block size 128
+can't open device TEST_DIR/t.vpc: Invalid block size 128
 no file open, try 'help open'
-qemu-io: can't open device TEST_DIR/t.vpc: Invalid block size 128
+can't open device TEST_DIR/t.vpc: Invalid block size 128
 no file open, try 'help open'
-qemu-io: can't open device TEST_DIR/t.vpc: Invalid block size 305419896
+can't open device TEST_DIR/t.vpc: Invalid block size 305419896
 no file open, try 'help open'
-qemu-io: can't open device TEST_DIR/t.vpc: Invalid block size 305419896
+can't open device TEST_DIR/t.vpc: Invalid block size 305419896
 no file open, try 'help open'
 *** done
diff --git a/tests/qemu-iotests/092.out b/tests/qemu-iotests/092.out
index c5c60f9178..e18f54c200 100644
--- a/tests/qemu-iotests/092.out
+++ b/tests/qemu-iotests/092.out
@@ -2,37 +2,37 @@ QA output created by 092
 
 == Invalid cluster size ==
 Formatting 'TEST_DIR/t.IMGFMT', fmt=IMGFMT size=67108864
-qemu-io: can't open device TEST_DIR/t.qcow: Cluster size must be between 512 and 64k
+can't open device TEST_DIR/t.qcow: Cluster size must be between 512 and 64k
 no file open, try 'help open'
-qemu-io: can't open device TEST_DIR/t.qcow: Cluster size must be between 512 and 64k
+can't open device TEST_DIR/t.qcow: Cluster size must be between 512 and 64k
 no file open, try 'help open'
-qemu-io: can't open device TEST_DIR/t.qcow: Cluster size must be between 512 and 64k
+can't open device TEST_DIR/t.qcow: Cluster size must be between 512 and 64k
 no file open, try 'help open'
-qemu-io: can't open device TEST_DIR/t.qcow: Cluster size must be between 512 and 64k
+can't open device TEST_DIR/t.qcow: Cluster size must be between 512 and 64k
 no file open, try 'help open'
 
 == Invalid L2 table size ==
 Formatting 'TEST_DIR/t.IMGFMT', fmt=IMGFMT size=67108864
-qemu-io: can't open device TEST_DIR/t.qcow: L2 table size must be between 512 and 64k
+can't open device TEST_DIR/t.qcow: L2 table size must be between 512 and 64k
 no file open, try 'help open'
-qemu-io: can't open device TEST_DIR/t.qcow: L2 table size must be between 512 and 64k
+can't open device TEST_DIR/t.qcow: L2 table size must be between 512 and 64k
 no file open, try 'help open'
-qemu-io: can't open device TEST_DIR/t.qcow: L2 table size must be between 512 and 64k
+can't open device TEST_DIR/t.qcow: L2 table size must be between 512 and 64k
 no file open, try 'help open'
-qemu-io: can't open device TEST_DIR/t.qcow: L2 table size must be between 512 and 64k
+can't open device TEST_DIR/t.qcow: L2 table size must be between 512 and 64k
 no file open, try 'help open'
 
 == Invalid size ==
 Formatting 'TEST_DIR/t.IMGFMT', fmt=IMGFMT size=67108864
-qemu-io: can't open device TEST_DIR/t.qcow: Image too large
+can't open device TEST_DIR/t.qcow: Image too large
 no file open, try 'help open'
-qemu-io: can't open device TEST_DIR/t.qcow: Image too large
+can't open device TEST_DIR/t.qcow: Image too large
 no file open, try 'help open'
 
 == Invalid backing file length ==
 Formatting 'TEST_DIR/t.IMGFMT', fmt=IMGFMT size=67108864
-qemu-io: can't open device TEST_DIR/t.qcow: Backing file name too long
+can't open device TEST_DIR/t.qcow: Backing file name too long
 no file open, try 'help open'
-qemu-io: can't open device TEST_DIR/t.qcow: Backing file name too long
+can't open device TEST_DIR/t.qcow: Backing file name too long
 no file open, try 'help open'
 *** done
diff --git a/tests/qemu-iotests/103.out b/tests/qemu-iotests/103.out
index d05f49fdba..b7aaadf89a 100644
--- a/tests/qemu-iotests/103.out
+++ b/tests/qemu-iotests/103.out
@@ -5,10 +5,10 @@ wrote 65536/65536 bytes at offset 0
 
 === Testing invalid option combinations ===
 
-qemu-io: can't open device TEST_DIR/t.IMGFMT: cache-size, l2-cache-size and refcount-cache-size may not be set the same time
-qemu-io: can't open device TEST_DIR/t.IMGFMT: l2-cache-size may not exceed cache-size
-qemu-io: can't open device TEST_DIR/t.IMGFMT: refcount-cache-size may not exceed cache-size
-qemu-io: can't open device TEST_DIR/t.IMGFMT: cache-size, l2-cache-size and refcount-cache-size may not be set the same time
+can't open device TEST_DIR/t.IMGFMT: cache-size, l2-cache-size and refcount-cache-size may not be set the same time
+can't open device TEST_DIR/t.IMGFMT: l2-cache-size may not exceed cache-size
+can't open device TEST_DIR/t.IMGFMT: refcount-cache-size may not exceed cache-size
+can't open device TEST_DIR/t.IMGFMT: cache-size, l2-cache-size and refcount-cache-size may not be set the same time
 
 === Testing valid option combinations ===
 
diff --git a/tests/qemu-iotests/114.out b/tests/qemu-iotests/114.out
index 6a2c750567..b6d10e4804 100644
--- a/tests/qemu-iotests/114.out
+++ b/tests/qemu-iotests/114.out
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ virtual size: 64M (67108864 bytes)
 cluster_size: 65536
 backing file: TEST_DIR/t.IMGFMT.base
 backing file format: foo
-qemu-io: can't open device TEST_DIR/t.qcow2: Could not open backing file: Unknown driver 'foo'
+can't open device TEST_DIR/t.qcow2: Could not open backing file: Unknown driver 'foo'
 read 4096/4096 bytes at offset 0
 4 KiB, X ops; XX:XX:XX.X (XXX YYY/sec and XXX ops/sec)
 *** done
diff --git a/tests/qemu-iotests/116.out b/tests/qemu-iotests/116.out
index b679ceea63..1f11d4446d 100644
--- a/tests/qemu-iotests/116.out
+++ b/tests/qemu-iotests/116.out
@@ -2,36 +2,36 @@ QA output created by 116
 
 == truncated header cluster ==
 Formatting 'TEST_DIR/t.IMGFMT', fmt=IMGFMT size=134217728
-qemu-io: can't open device TEST_DIR/t.qed: Could not open 'TEST_DIR/t.qed': Invalid argument
+can't open device TEST_DIR/t.qed: Could not open 'TEST_DIR/t.qed': Invalid argument
 no file open, try 'help open'
 
 == invalid header magic ==
 Formatting 'TEST_DIR/t.IMGFMT', fmt=IMGFMT size=134217728
-qemu-io: can't open device TEST_DIR/t.qed: Image not in QED format
+can't open device TEST_DIR/t.qed: Image not in QED format
 no file open, try 'help open'
 
 == invalid cluster size ==
 Formatting 'TEST_DIR/t.IMGFMT', fmt=IMGFMT size=134217728
-qemu-io: can't open device TEST_DIR/t.qed: Could not open 'TEST_DIR/t.qed': Invalid argument
+can't open device TEST_DIR/t.qed: Could not open 'TEST_DIR/t.qed': Invalid argument
 no file open, try 'help open'
 
 == invalid table size ==
 Formatting 'TEST_DIR/t.IMGFMT', fmt=IMGFMT size=134217728
-qemu-io: can't open device TEST_DIR/t.qed: Could not open 'TEST_DIR/t.qed': Invalid argument
+can't open device TEST_DIR/t.qed: Could not open 'TEST_DIR/t.qed': Invalid argument
 no file open, try 'help open'
 
 == invalid header size ==
 Formatting 'TEST_DIR/t.IMGFMT', fmt=IMGFMT size=134217728
-qemu-io: can't open device TEST_DIR/t.qed: Could not open 'TEST_DIR/t.qed': Invalid argument
+can't open device TEST_DIR/t.qed: Could not open 'TEST_DIR/t.qed': Invalid argument
 no file open, try 'help open'
 
 == invalid L1 table offset ==
 Formatting 'TEST_DIR/t.IMGFMT', fmt=IMGFMT size=134217728
-qemu-io: can't open device TEST_DIR/t.qed: Could not open 'TEST_DIR/t.qed': Invalid argument
+can't open device TEST_DIR/t.qed: Could not open 'TEST_DIR/t.qed': Invalid argument
 no file open, try 'help open'
 
 == invalid image size ==
 Formatting 'TEST_DIR/t.IMGFMT', fmt=IMGFMT size=134217728
-qemu-io: can't open device TEST_DIR/t.qed: Could not open 'TEST_DIR/t.qed': Invalid argument
+can't open device TEST_DIR/t.qed: Could not open 'TEST_DIR/t.qed': Invalid argument
 no file open, try 'help open'
 *** done
diff --git a/tests/qemu-iotests/131.out b/tests/qemu-iotests/131.out
index 021a04c812..ae2412ebf7 100644
--- a/tests/qemu-iotests/131.out
+++ b/tests/qemu-iotests/131.out
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ read 32768/32768 bytes at offset 163840
 read 32768/32768 bytes at offset 0
 32 KiB, X ops; XX:XX:XX.X (XXX YYY/sec and XXX ops/sec)
 == Corrupt image ==
-qemu-io: can't open device TEST_DIR/t.parallels: parallels: Image was not closed correctly; cannot be opened read/write
+can't open device TEST_DIR/t.parallels: parallels: Image was not closed correctly; cannot be opened read/write
 no file open, try 'help open'
 ERROR image was not closed correctly
 
diff --git a/tests/test-aio.c b/tests/test-aio.c
index e188d8c13d..6ccea98977 100644
--- a/tests/test-aio.c
+++ b/tests/test-aio.c
@@ -832,9 +832,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 
     ctx = aio_context_new(&local_error);
     if (!ctx) {
-        error_report("Failed to create AIO Context: '%s'",
-                     error_get_pretty(local_error));
-        error_free(local_error);
+        error_reportf_err(local_error, "Failed to create AIO Context: ");
         exit(1);
     }
     src = aio_get_g_source(ctx);
diff --git a/tests/test-string-output-visitor.c b/tests/test-string-output-visitor.c
index 95852523b4..7aecdfcefb 100644
--- a/tests/test-string-output-visitor.c
+++ b/tests/test-string-output-visitor.c
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ static void test_visitor_out_intList(TestOutputVisitorData *data,
         3, 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13, 21, 22, INT64_MAX - 1, INT64_MAX};
     intList *list = NULL, **tmp = &list;
     int i;
-    Error *errp = NULL;
+    Error *err = NULL;
     char *str;
 
     for (i = 0; i < sizeof(value) / sizeof(value[0]); i++) {
@@ -90,8 +90,8 @@ static void test_visitor_out_intList(TestOutputVisitorData *data,
         tmp = &(*tmp)->next;
     }
 
-    visit_type_intList(data->ov, &list, NULL, &errp);
-    g_assert(errp == NULL);
+    visit_type_intList(data->ov, &list, NULL, &err);
+    g_assert(err == NULL);
 
     str = string_output_get_string(data->sov);
     g_assert(str != NULL);
diff --git a/tests/test-thread-pool.c b/tests/test-thread-pool.c
index 6a0b9813f5..ccdee39993 100644
--- a/tests/test-thread-pool.c
+++ b/tests/test-thread-pool.c
@@ -229,9 +229,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 
     ctx = aio_context_new(&local_error);
     if (!ctx) {
-        error_report("Failed to create AIO Context: '%s'",
-                     error_get_pretty(local_error));
-        error_free(local_error);
+        error_reportf_err(local_error, "Failed to create AIO Context: ");
         exit(1);
     }
     pool = aio_get_thread_pool(ctx);
diff --git a/tests/test-throttle.c b/tests/test-throttle.c
index 85c9b6ceed..a95039fdbf 100644
--- a/tests/test-throttle.c
+++ b/tests/test-throttle.c
@@ -581,21 +581,8 @@ static void test_groups(void)
 
 int main(int argc, char **argv)
 {
-    Error *local_error = NULL;
-
-    qemu_init_main_loop(&local_error);
+    qemu_init_main_loop(&error_fatal);
     ctx = qemu_get_aio_context();
-
-    if (!ctx) {
-        error_report("Failed to create AIO Context: '%s'",
-                     local_error ? error_get_pretty(local_error) :
-                     "Failed to initialize the QEMU main loop");
-        if (local_error) {
-            error_free(local_error);
-        }
-        exit(1);
-    }
-
     bdrv_init();
 
     do {} while (g_main_context_iteration(NULL, false));
diff --git a/ui/vnc.c b/ui/vnc.c
index 09756cd7cc..54673eb8c7 100644
--- a/ui/vnc.c
+++ b/ui/vnc.c
@@ -3861,9 +3861,7 @@ int vnc_init_func(void *opaque, QemuOpts *opts, Error **errp)
     vnc_display_init(id);
     vnc_display_open(id, &local_err);
     if (local_err != NULL) {
-        error_report("Failed to start VNC server: %s",
-                     error_get_pretty(local_err));
-        error_free(local_err);
+        error_reportf_err(local_err, "Failed to start VNC server: ");
         exit(1);
     }
     return 0;
diff --git a/util/error.c b/util/error.c
index 80c89a2079..57303fd05c 100644
--- a/util/error.c
+++ b/util/error.c
@@ -122,6 +122,29 @@ void error_setg_file_open_internal(Error **errp,
                               "Could not open '%s'", filename);
 }
 
+void error_vprepend(Error **errp, const char *fmt, va_list ap)
+{
+    GString *newmsg;
+
+    if (!errp) {
+        return;
+    }
+
+    newmsg = g_string_new(NULL);
+    g_string_vprintf(newmsg, fmt, ap);
+    g_string_append(newmsg, (*errp)->msg);
+    (*errp)->msg = g_string_free(newmsg, 0);
+}
+
+void error_prepend(Error **errp, const char *fmt, ...)
+{
+    va_list ap;
+
+    va_start(ap, fmt);
+    error_vprepend(errp, fmt, ap);
+    va_end(ap);
+}
+
 void error_append_hint(Error **errp, const char *fmt, ...)
 {
     va_list ap;
@@ -132,7 +155,7 @@ void error_append_hint(Error **errp, const char *fmt, ...)
         return;
     }
     err = *errp;
-    assert(err && errp != &error_abort);
+    assert(err && errp != &error_abort && errp != &error_fatal);
 
     if (!err->hint) {
         err->hint = g_string_new(NULL);
@@ -204,11 +227,21 @@ void error_report_err(Error *err)
 {
     error_report("%s", error_get_pretty(err));
     if (err->hint) {
-        error_printf_unless_qmp("%s\n", err->hint->str);
+        error_printf_unless_qmp("%s", err->hint->str);
     }
     error_free(err);
 }
 
+void error_reportf_err(Error *err, const char *fmt, ...)
+{
+    va_list ap;
+
+    va_start(ap, fmt);
+    error_vprepend(&err, fmt, ap);
+    va_end(ap);
+    error_report_err(err);
+}
+
 void error_free(Error *err)
 {
     if (err) {
diff --git a/util/qemu-error.c b/util/qemu-error.c
index c1574bb348..ecf5708478 100644
--- a/util/qemu-error.c
+++ b/util/qemu-error.c
@@ -200,8 +200,8 @@ static void error_print_loc(void)
 bool enable_timestamp_msg;
 /*
  * Print an error message to current monitor if we have one, else to stderr.
- * Format arguments like vsprintf().  The result should not contain
- * newlines.
+ * Format arguments like vsprintf().  The resulting message should be
+ * a single phrase, with no newline or trailing punctuation.
  * Prepend the current location and append a newline.
  * It's wrong to call this in a QMP monitor.  Use error_setg() there.
  */
@@ -224,8 +224,8 @@ void error_vreport(const char *fmt, va_list ap)
 
 /*
  * Print an error message to current monitor if we have one, else to stderr.
- * Format arguments like sprintf().  The result should not contain
- * newlines.
+ * Format arguments like sprintf().  The resulting message should be a
+ * single phrase, with no newline or trailing punctuation.
  * Prepend the current location and append a newline.
  * It's wrong to call this in a QMP monitor.  Use error_setg() there.
  */
diff --git a/util/qemu-option.c b/util/qemu-option.c
index a50eceae4a..a2d593ad2b 100644
--- a/util/qemu-option.c
+++ b/util/qemu-option.c
@@ -206,7 +206,7 @@ void parse_option_size(const char *name, const char *value,
         default:
             error_setg(errp, QERR_INVALID_PARAMETER_VALUE, name, "a size");
             error_append_hint(errp, "You may use k, M, G or T suffixes for "
-                    "kilobytes, megabytes, gigabytes and terabytes.");
+                    "kilobytes, megabytes, gigabytes and terabytes.\n");
             return;
         }
     } else {
@@ -647,7 +647,7 @@ QemuOpts *qemu_opts_create(QemuOptsList *list, const char *id,
             error_setg(errp, QERR_INVALID_PARAMETER_VALUE, "id",
                        "an identifier");
             error_append_hint(errp, "Identifiers consist of letters, digits, "
-                              "'-', '.', '_', starting with a letter.");
+                              "'-', '.', '_', starting with a letter.\n");
             return NULL;
         }
         opts = qemu_opts_find(list, id);
diff --git a/vl.c b/vl.c
index 0c69d94911..b7a083eb56 100644
--- a/vl.c
+++ b/vl.c
@@ -3038,7 +3038,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv, char **envp)
     runstate_init();
 
     if (qcrypto_init(&err) < 0) {
-        error_report("cannot initialize crypto: %s", error_get_pretty(err));
+        error_reportf_err(err, "cannot initialize crypto: ");
         exit(1);
     }
     rtc_clock = QEMU_CLOCK_HOST;
@@ -4324,12 +4324,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv, char **envp)
     configure_accelerator(current_machine);
 
     if (qtest_chrdev) {
-        Error *local_err = NULL;
-        qtest_init(qtest_chrdev, qtest_log, &local_err);
-        if (local_err) {
-            error_report_err(local_err);
-            exit(1);
-        }
+        qtest_init(qtest_chrdev, qtest_log, &error_fatal);
     }
 
     machine_opts = qemu_get_machine_opts();
@@ -4340,24 +4335,14 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv, char **envp)
 
     opts = qemu_opts_find(qemu_find_opts("boot-opts"), NULL);
     if (opts) {
-        Error *local_err = NULL;
-
         boot_order = qemu_opt_get(opts, "order");
         if (boot_order) {
-            validate_bootdevices(boot_order, &local_err);
-            if (local_err) {
-                error_report_err(local_err);
-                exit(1);
-            }
+            validate_bootdevices(boot_order, &error_fatal);
         }
 
         boot_once = qemu_opt_get(opts, "once");
         if (boot_once) {
-            validate_bootdevices(boot_once, &local_err);
-            if (local_err) {
-                error_report_err(local_err);
-                exit(1);
-            }
+            validate_bootdevices(boot_once, &error_fatal);
         }
 
         boot_menu = qemu_opt_get_bool(opts, "menu", boot_menu);
@@ -4563,7 +4548,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv, char **envp)
         Error *local_err = NULL;
         qemu_boot_set(boot_once, &local_err);
         if (local_err) {
-            error_report("%s", error_get_pretty(local_err));
+            error_report_err(local_err);
             exit(1);
         }
         qemu_register_reset(restore_boot_order, g_strdup(boot_order));
@@ -4659,9 +4644,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv, char **envp)
         Error *local_err = NULL;
         qemu_start_incoming_migration(incoming, &local_err);
         if (local_err) {
-            error_report("-incoming %s: %s", incoming,
-                         error_get_pretty(local_err));
-            error_free(local_err);
+            error_reportf_err(local_err, "-incoming %s: ", incoming);
             exit(1);
         }
     } else if (autostart) {
diff --git a/xen-hvm.c b/xen-hvm.c
index 3d78a0c529..2a9339062a 100644
--- a/xen-hvm.c
+++ b/xen-hvm.c
@@ -240,6 +240,7 @@ static void xen_ram_init(PCMachineState *pcms,
 
 void xen_ram_alloc(ram_addr_t ram_addr, ram_addr_t size, MemoryRegion *mr)
 {
+    /* FIXME caller ram_block_add() wants error_setg() on failure */
     unsigned long nr_pfn;
     xen_pfn_t *pfn_list;
     int i;
@@ -1192,6 +1193,12 @@ static void xen_wakeup_notifier(Notifier *notifier, void *data)
 int xen_hvm_init(PCMachineState *pcms,
                  MemoryRegion **ram_memory)
 {
+    /*
+     * FIXME Returns -1 without cleaning up on some errors (harmless
+     * as long as the caller exit()s on error), dies with hw_error()
+     * on others.  hw_error() isn't approprate here.  Should probably
+     * simply exit() on all errors.
+     */
     int i, rc;
     xen_pfn_t ioreq_pfn;
     xen_pfn_t bufioreq_pfn;