diff --git a/qom/object.c b/qom/object.c
index d34608558e..e5cef30f6d 100644
--- a/qom/object.c
+++ b/qom/object.c
@@ -1383,7 +1383,8 @@ bool object_property_get(Object *obj, const char *name, Visitor *v,
     }
 
     if (!prop->get) {
-        error_setg(errp, QERR_PERMISSION_DENIED);
+        error_setg(errp, "Property '%s.%s' is not readable",
+                   object_get_typename(obj), name);
         return false;
     }
     prop->get(obj, v, name, prop->opaque, &err);
@@ -1402,7 +1403,8 @@ bool object_property_set(Object *obj, const char *name, Visitor *v,
     }
 
     if (!prop->set) {
-        error_setg(errp, QERR_PERMISSION_DENIED);
+        error_setg(errp, "Property '%s.%s' is not writable",
+                   object_get_typename(obj), name);
         return false;
     }
     prop->set(obj, v, name, prop->opaque, errp);