diff --git a/hw/hw.h b/hw/hw.h
index eab7bb4db1..e9628d46fb 100644
--- a/hw/hw.h
+++ b/hw/hw.h
@@ -67,6 +67,7 @@ unsigned int qemu_get_be32(QEMUFile *f);
 uint64_t qemu_get_be64(QEMUFile *f);
 int qemu_file_rate_limit(QEMUFile *f);
 int qemu_file_has_error(QEMUFile *f);
+void qemu_file_set_error(QEMUFile *f);
 
 /* Try to send any outstanding data.  This function is useful when output is
  * halted due to rate limiting or EAGAIN errors occur as it can be used to
diff --git a/savevm.c b/savevm.c
index 793ea70695..70500dd57a 100644
--- a/savevm.c
+++ b/savevm.c
@@ -370,6 +370,11 @@ int qemu_file_has_error(QEMUFile *f)
     return f->has_error;
 }
 
+void qemu_file_set_error(QEMUFile *f)
+{
+    f->has_error = 1;
+}
+
 void qemu_fflush(QEMUFile *f)
 {
     if (!f->put_buffer)