diff --git a/hw/usb/dev-serial.c b/hw/usb/dev-serial.c
index eb1b115919..3784f4a174 100644
--- a/hw/usb/dev-serial.c
+++ b/hw/usb/dev-serial.c
@@ -476,18 +476,17 @@ static void usb_serial_event(void *opaque, int event)
     }
 }
 
-static int usb_serial_initfn(USBDevice *dev)
+static void usb_serial_realize(USBDevice *dev, Error **errp)
 {
     USBSerialState *s = DO_UPCAST(USBSerialState, dev, dev);
-    Error *local_err = NULL;
 
     usb_desc_create_serial(dev);
     usb_desc_init(dev);
     dev->auto_attach = 0;
 
     if (!s->cs) {
-        error_report("Property chardev is required");
-        return -1;
+        error_setg(errp, "Property chardev is required");
+        return;
     }
 
     qemu_chr_add_handlers(s->cs, usb_serial_can_read, usb_serial_read,
@@ -495,13 +494,8 @@ static int usb_serial_initfn(USBDevice *dev)
     usb_serial_handle_reset(dev);
 
     if (s->cs->be_open && !dev->attached) {
-        usb_device_attach(dev, &local_err);
-        if (local_err) {
-            qerror_report_err(local_err);
-            error_free(local_err);
-        }
+        usb_device_attach(dev, errp);
     }
-    return 0;
 }
 
 static USBDevice *usb_serial_init(USBBus *bus, const char *filename)
@@ -592,7 +586,7 @@ static void usb_serial_class_initfn(ObjectClass *klass, void *data)
     DeviceClass *dc = DEVICE_CLASS(klass);
     USBDeviceClass *uc = USB_DEVICE_CLASS(klass);
 
-    uc->init = usb_serial_initfn;
+    uc->realize = usb_serial_realize;
     uc->product_desc   = "QEMU USB Serial";
     uc->usb_desc       = &desc_serial;
     uc->handle_reset   = usb_serial_handle_reset;
@@ -620,7 +614,7 @@ static void usb_braille_class_initfn(ObjectClass *klass, void *data)
     DeviceClass *dc = DEVICE_CLASS(klass);
     USBDeviceClass *uc = USB_DEVICE_CLASS(klass);
 
-    uc->init           = usb_serial_initfn;
+    uc->realize        = usb_serial_realize;
     uc->product_desc   = "QEMU USB Braille";
     uc->usb_desc       = &desc_braille;
     uc->handle_reset   = usb_serial_handle_reset;