diff --git a/hw/sd/milkymist-memcard.c b/hw/sd/milkymist-memcard.c
index 482e97191e..afdb8aa0c0 100644
--- a/hw/sd/milkymist-memcard.c
+++ b/hw/sd/milkymist-memcard.c
@@ -280,9 +280,8 @@ static void milkymist_memcard_realize(DeviceState *dev, Error **errp)
     blk = dinfo ? blk_by_legacy_dinfo(dinfo) : NULL;
     carddev = qdev_new(TYPE_SD_CARD);
     qdev_prop_set_drive(carddev, "drive", blk);
-    qdev_realize_and_unref(carddev, BUS(&s->sdbus), &err);
-    if (err) {
-        error_setg(errp, "failed to init SD card: %s", error_get_pretty(err));
+    if (!qdev_realize_and_unref(carddev, BUS(&s->sdbus), &err)) {
+        error_propagate_prepend(errp, err, "failed to init SD card: %s");
         return;
     }
     s->enabled = blk && blk_is_inserted(blk);