diff --git a/error.c b/error.c
index 867eec2c1a..74d7398b58 100644
--- a/error.c
+++ b/error.c
@@ -9,11 +9,12 @@
  * This work is licensed under the terms of the GNU LGPL, version 2.  See
  * the COPYING.LIB file in the top-level directory.
  */
+
+#include "qemu-common.h"
 #include "error.h"
 #include "error_int.h"
 #include "qemu-objects.h"
 #include "qerror.h"
-#include <assert.h>
 
 struct Error
 {
diff --git a/error.h b/error.h
index 003c855e65..0f92a6f570 100644
--- a/error.h
+++ b/error.h
@@ -25,8 +25,7 @@ typedef struct Error Error;
  * Currently, qerror.h defines these error formats.  This function is not
  * meant to be used outside of QEMU.
  */
-void error_set(Error **err, const char *fmt, ...)
-    __attribute__((format(printf, 2, 3)));
+void error_set(Error **err, const char *fmt, ...) GCC_FMT_ATTR(2, 3);
 
 /**
  * Returns true if an indirect pointer to an error is pointing to a valid