diff --git a/hw/audio/hda-codec.c b/hw/audio/hda-codec.c
index c51d8ba617..a26048cf15 100644
--- a/hw/audio/hda-codec.c
+++ b/hw/audio/hda-codec.c
@@ -675,7 +675,9 @@ static void hda_audio_stream(HDACodecDevice *hda, uint32_t stnr, bool running, b
     }
 }
 
-static int hda_audio_init(HDACodecDevice *hda, const struct desc_codec *desc)
+static void hda_audio_init(HDACodecDevice *hda,
+                           const struct desc_codec *desc,
+                           Error **errp)
 {
     HDAAudioState *a = HDA_AUDIO(hda);
     HDAAudioStream *st;
@@ -718,7 +720,6 @@ static int hda_audio_init(HDACodecDevice *hda, const struct desc_codec *desc)
             break;
         }
     }
-    return 0;
 }
 
 static void hda_audio_exit(HDACodecDevice *hda)
@@ -848,37 +849,40 @@ static Property hda_audio_properties[] = {
     DEFINE_PROP_END_OF_LIST(),
 };
 
-static int hda_audio_init_output(HDACodecDevice *hda)
+static void hda_audio_init_output(HDACodecDevice *hda, Error **errp)
 {
     HDAAudioState *a = HDA_AUDIO(hda);
+    const struct desc_codec *desc = &output_nomixemu;
 
     if (!a->mixer) {
-        return hda_audio_init(hda, &output_nomixemu);
-    } else {
-        return hda_audio_init(hda, &output_mixemu);
+        desc = &output_mixemu;
     }
+
+    hda_audio_init(hda, desc, errp);
 }
 
-static int hda_audio_init_duplex(HDACodecDevice *hda)
+static void hda_audio_init_duplex(HDACodecDevice *hda, Error **errp)
 {
     HDAAudioState *a = HDA_AUDIO(hda);
+    const struct desc_codec *desc = &duplex_nomixemu;
 
     if (!a->mixer) {
-        return hda_audio_init(hda, &duplex_nomixemu);
-    } else {
-        return hda_audio_init(hda, &duplex_mixemu);
+        desc = &duplex_mixemu;
     }
+
+    hda_audio_init(hda, desc, errp);
 }
 
-static int hda_audio_init_micro(HDACodecDevice *hda)
+static void hda_audio_init_micro(HDACodecDevice *hda, Error **errp)
 {
     HDAAudioState *a = HDA_AUDIO(hda);
+    const struct desc_codec *desc = &micro_nomixemu;
 
     if (!a->mixer) {
-        return hda_audio_init(hda, &micro_nomixemu);
-    } else {
-        return hda_audio_init(hda, &micro_mixemu);
+        desc = &micro_mixemu;
     }
+
+    hda_audio_init(hda, desc, errp);
 }
 
 static void hda_audio_base_class_init(ObjectClass *klass, void *data)
diff --git a/hw/audio/intel-hda.c b/hw/audio/intel-hda.c
index b9ed231fe8..78ff9f9a68 100644
--- a/hw/audio/intel-hda.c
+++ b/hw/audio/intel-hda.c
@@ -71,9 +71,7 @@ static void hda_codec_dev_realize(DeviceState *qdev, Error **errp)
         return;
     }
     bus->next_cad = dev->cad + 1;
-    if (cdc->init(dev) != 0) {
-        error_setg(errp, "HDA audio init failed");
-    }
+    cdc->init(dev, errp);
 }
 
 static void hda_codec_dev_unrealize(DeviceState *qdev)
diff --git a/hw/audio/intel-hda.h b/hw/audio/intel-hda.h
index f78c1833e3..8d710eee5d 100644
--- a/hw/audio/intel-hda.h
+++ b/hw/audio/intel-hda.h
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ struct HDACodecBus {
 struct HDACodecDeviceClass {
     DeviceClass parent_class;
 
-    int (*init)(HDACodecDevice *dev);
+    void (*init)(HDACodecDevice *dev, Error **errp);
     void (*exit)(HDACodecDevice *dev);
     void (*command)(HDACodecDevice *dev, uint32_t nid, uint32_t data);
     void (*stream)(HDACodecDevice *dev, uint32_t stnr, bool running, bool output);