diff --git a/hw/ppc/spapr.c b/hw/ppc/spapr.c
index 1f8bd53cb8..dfedded9a8 100644
--- a/hw/ppc/spapr.c
+++ b/hw/ppc/spapr.c
@@ -3398,7 +3398,7 @@ static void spapr_add_lmbs(DeviceState *dev, uint64_t addr_start, uint64_t size,
          * that doesn't overlap with any existing mapping at pre-plug. The
          * corresponding LMB DRCs are thus assumed to be all attachable.
          */
-        spapr_drc_attach(drc, dev, &error_abort);
+        spapr_drc_attach(drc, dev);
         if (!hotplugged) {
             spapr_drc_reset(drc);
         }
@@ -3766,7 +3766,7 @@ static void spapr_core_plug(HotplugHandler *hotplug_dev, DeviceState *dev)
          * core being plugged into a free slot. Nothing should already
          * be attached to the corresponding DRC.
          */
-        spapr_drc_attach(drc, dev, &error_abort);
+        spapr_drc_attach(drc, dev);
 
         if (hotplugged) {
             /*
@@ -3931,7 +3931,7 @@ static void spapr_phb_plug(HotplugHandler *hotplug_dev, DeviceState *dev)
     assert(drc);
 
     /* spapr_phb_pre_plug() already checked the DRC is attachable */
-    spapr_drc_attach(drc, dev, &error_abort);
+    spapr_drc_attach(drc, dev);
 
     if (hotplugged) {
         spapr_hotplug_req_add_by_index(drc);
diff --git a/hw/ppc/spapr_drc.c b/hw/ppc/spapr_drc.c
index 77718cde1f..f991cf89a0 100644
--- a/hw/ppc/spapr_drc.c
+++ b/hw/ppc/spapr_drc.c
@@ -369,14 +369,11 @@ static void prop_get_fdt(Object *obj, Visitor *v, const char *name,
     } while (fdt_depth != 0);
 }
 
-bool spapr_drc_attach(SpaprDrc *drc, DeviceState *d, Error **errp)
+void spapr_drc_attach(SpaprDrc *drc, DeviceState *d)
 {
     trace_spapr_drc_attach(spapr_drc_index(drc));
 
-    if (drc->dev) {
-        error_setg(errp, "an attached device is still awaiting release");
-        return false;
-    }
+    g_assert(!drc->dev);
     g_assert((drc->state == SPAPR_DRC_STATE_LOGICAL_UNUSABLE)
              || (drc->state == SPAPR_DRC_STATE_PHYSICAL_POWERON));
 
@@ -386,7 +383,6 @@ bool spapr_drc_attach(SpaprDrc *drc, DeviceState *d, Error **errp)
                              object_get_typename(OBJECT(drc->dev)),
                              (Object **)(&drc->dev),
                              NULL, 0);
-    return true;
 }
 
 static void spapr_drc_release(SpaprDrc *drc)
diff --git a/hw/ppc/spapr_nvdimm.c b/hw/ppc/spapr_nvdimm.c
index 2f1c196e1b..73ee006541 100644
--- a/hw/ppc/spapr_nvdimm.c
+++ b/hw/ppc/spapr_nvdimm.c
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ void spapr_add_nvdimm(DeviceState *dev, uint64_t slot)
      * pc_dimm_get_free_slot() provided a free slot at pre-plug. The
      * corresponding DRC is thus assumed to be attachable.
      */
-    spapr_drc_attach(drc, dev, &error_abort);
+    spapr_drc_attach(drc, dev);
 
     if (hotplugged) {
         spapr_hotplug_req_add_by_index(drc);
diff --git a/hw/ppc/spapr_pci.c b/hw/ppc/spapr_pci.c
index 2829f298d9..e946bd5055 100644
--- a/hw/ppc/spapr_pci.c
+++ b/hw/ppc/spapr_pci.c
@@ -1601,7 +1601,7 @@ static void spapr_pci_plug(HotplugHandler *plug_handler,
     }
 
     /* spapr_pci_pre_plug() already checked the DRC is attachable */
-    spapr_drc_attach(drc, DEVICE(pdev), &error_abort);
+    spapr_drc_attach(drc, DEVICE(pdev));
 
     /* If this is function 0, signal hotplug for all the device functions.
      * Otherwise defer sending the hotplug event.
diff --git a/include/hw/ppc/spapr_drc.h b/include/hw/ppc/spapr_drc.h
index 165b281496..def3593adc 100644
--- a/include/hw/ppc/spapr_drc.h
+++ b/include/hw/ppc/spapr_drc.h
@@ -235,7 +235,13 @@ SpaprDrc *spapr_drc_by_index(uint32_t index);
 SpaprDrc *spapr_drc_by_id(const char *type, uint32_t id);
 int spapr_dt_drc(void *fdt, int offset, Object *owner, uint32_t drc_type_mask);
 
-bool spapr_drc_attach(SpaprDrc *drc, DeviceState *d, Error **errp);
+/*
+ * These functions respectively abort if called with a device already
+ * attached or no device attached. In the case of spapr_drc_attach(),
+ * this means that the attachability of the DRC *must* be checked
+ * beforehand (eg. check drc->dev at pre-plug).
+ */
+void spapr_drc_attach(SpaprDrc *drc, DeviceState *d);
 void spapr_drc_detach(SpaprDrc *drc);
 
 /* Returns true if a hot plug/unplug request is pending */