diff --git a/hw/core/qdev-properties-system.c b/hw/core/qdev-properties-system.c
index 810831b1df..7d2387f22c 100644
--- a/hw/core/qdev-properties-system.c
+++ b/hw/core/qdev-properties-system.c
@@ -421,7 +421,7 @@ const PropertyInfo qdev_prop_audiodev = {
     .set = set_audiodev,
 };
 
-void qdev_prop_set_drive_err(DeviceState *dev, const char *name,
+bool qdev_prop_set_drive_err(DeviceState *dev, const char *name,
                              BlockBackend *value, Error **errp)
 {
     const char *ref = "";
@@ -436,7 +436,7 @@ void qdev_prop_set_drive_err(DeviceState *dev, const char *name,
         }
     }
 
-    object_property_set_str(OBJECT(dev), name, ref, errp);
+    return object_property_set_str(OBJECT(dev), name, ref, errp);
 }
 
 void qdev_prop_set_drive(DeviceState *dev, const char *name,
diff --git a/include/hw/qdev-properties.h b/include/hw/qdev-properties.h
index 944e3f2e0c..587e5b7d31 100644
--- a/include/hw/qdev-properties.h
+++ b/include/hw/qdev-properties.h
@@ -239,8 +239,8 @@ extern const PropertyInfo qdev_prop_pcie_link_width;
 /*
  * Set properties between creation and realization.
  */
-void qdev_prop_set_drive_err(DeviceState *dev, const char *name,
-                         BlockBackend *value, Error **errp);
+bool qdev_prop_set_drive_err(DeviceState *dev, const char *name,
+                             BlockBackend *value, Error **errp);
 
 /*
  * Set properties between creation and realization.