diff --git a/arch_init.c b/arch_init.c
index 5fc6fc382c..691b5e2e91 100644
--- a/arch_init.c
+++ b/arch_init.c
@@ -1124,8 +1124,7 @@ static int ram_load(QEMUFile *f, void *opaque, int version_id)
 
                             ret = qemu_ram_resize(block->offset, length, &local_err);
                             if (local_err) {
-                                error_report("%s", error_get_pretty(local_err));
-                                error_free(local_err);
+                                error_report_err(local_err);
                             }
                         }
                         break;
diff --git a/block/sheepdog.c b/block/sheepdog.c
index b320871e9c..d17ee360c5 100644
--- a/block/sheepdog.c
+++ b/block/sheepdog.c
@@ -726,8 +726,7 @@ static coroutine_fn void reconnect_to_sdog(void *opaque)
         s->fd = get_sheep_fd(s, &local_err);
         if (s->fd < 0) {
             DPRINTF("Wait for connection to be established\n");
-            error_report("%s", error_get_pretty(local_err));
-            error_free(local_err);
+            error_report_err(local_err);
             co_aio_sleep_ns(bdrv_get_aio_context(s->bs), QEMU_CLOCK_REALTIME,
                             1000000000ULL);
         }
@@ -1283,8 +1282,7 @@ static int reload_inode(BDRVSheepdogState *s, uint32_t snapid, const char *tag)
 
     fd = connect_to_sdog(s, &local_err);
     if (fd < 0) {
-        error_report("%s", error_get_pretty(local_err));;
-        error_free(local_err);
+        error_report_err(local_err);
         return -EIO;
     }
 
@@ -1292,8 +1290,7 @@ static int reload_inode(BDRVSheepdogState *s, uint32_t snapid, const char *tag)
 
     ret = find_vdi_name(s, s->name, snapid, tag, &vid, false, &local_err);
     if (ret) {
-        error_report("%s", error_get_pretty(local_err));;
-        error_free(local_err);
+        error_report_err(local_err);
         goto out;
     }
 
@@ -1785,8 +1782,7 @@ static void sd_close(BlockDriverState *bs)
 
     fd = connect_to_sdog(s, &local_err);
     if (fd < 0) {
-        error_report("%s", error_get_pretty(local_err));;
-        error_free(local_err);
+        error_report_err(local_err);
         return;
     }
 
@@ -1838,8 +1834,7 @@ static int sd_truncate(BlockDriverState *bs, int64_t offset)
 
     fd = connect_to_sdog(s, &local_err);
     if (fd < 0) {
-        error_report("%s", error_get_pretty(local_err));;
-        error_free(local_err);
+        error_report_err(local_err);
         return fd;
     }
 
@@ -1912,8 +1907,7 @@ static bool sd_delete(BDRVSheepdogState *s)
 
     fd = connect_to_sdog(s, &local_err);
     if (fd < 0) {
-        error_report("%s", error_get_pretty(local_err));;
-        error_free(local_err);
+        error_report_err(local_err);
         return false;
     }
 
@@ -1960,8 +1954,7 @@ static int sd_create_branch(BDRVSheepdogState *s)
     deleted = sd_delete(s);
     ret = do_sd_create(s, &vid, !deleted, &local_err);
     if (ret) {
-        error_report("%s", error_get_pretty(local_err));;
-        error_free(local_err);
+        error_report_err(local_err);
         goto out;
     }
 
@@ -1969,8 +1962,7 @@ static int sd_create_branch(BDRVSheepdogState *s)
 
     fd = connect_to_sdog(s, &local_err);
     if (fd < 0) {
-        error_report("%s", error_get_pretty(local_err));;
-        error_free(local_err);
+        error_report_err(local_err);
         ret = fd;
         goto out;
     }
@@ -2218,8 +2210,7 @@ static int sd_snapshot_create(BlockDriverState *bs, QEMUSnapshotInfo *sn_info)
     /* refresh inode. */
     fd = connect_to_sdog(s, &local_err);
     if (fd < 0) {
-        error_report("%s", error_get_pretty(local_err));;
-        error_free(local_err);
+        error_report_err(local_err);
         ret = fd;
         goto cleanup;
     }
@@ -2234,8 +2225,7 @@ static int sd_snapshot_create(BlockDriverState *bs, QEMUSnapshotInfo *sn_info)
 
     ret = do_sd_create(s, &new_vid, 1, &local_err);
     if (ret < 0) {
-        error_report("%s", error_get_pretty(local_err));;
-        error_free(local_err);
+        error_report_err(local_err);
         error_report("failed to create inode for snapshot. %s",
                      strerror(errno));
         goto cleanup;
@@ -2336,8 +2326,7 @@ static int sd_snapshot_list(BlockDriverState *bs, QEMUSnapshotInfo **psn_tab)
 
     fd = connect_to_sdog(s, &local_err);
     if (fd < 0) {
-        error_report("%s", error_get_pretty(local_err));;
-        error_free(local_err);
+        error_report_err(local_err);
         ret = fd;
         goto out;
     }
@@ -2366,8 +2355,7 @@ static int sd_snapshot_list(BlockDriverState *bs, QEMUSnapshotInfo **psn_tab)
 
     fd = connect_to_sdog(s, &local_err);
     if (fd < 0) {
-        error_report("%s", error_get_pretty(local_err));;
-        error_free(local_err);
+        error_report_err(local_err);
         ret = fd;
         goto out;
     }
@@ -2429,8 +2417,7 @@ static int do_load_save_vmstate(BDRVSheepdogState *s, uint8_t *data,
 
     fd = connect_to_sdog(s, &local_err);
     if (fd < 0) {
-        error_report("%s", error_get_pretty(local_err));;
-        error_free(local_err);
+        error_report_err(local_err);
         return fd;
     }
 
diff --git a/blockdev.c b/blockdev.c
index 18e420779f..ae73539551 100644
--- a/blockdev.c
+++ b/blockdev.c
@@ -720,8 +720,7 @@ DriveInfo *drive_new(QemuOpts *all_opts, BlockInterfaceType block_default_type)
         qemu_opt_rename(all_opts, opt_renames[i].from, opt_renames[i].to,
                         &local_err);
         if (local_err) {
-            error_report("%s", error_get_pretty(local_err));
-            error_free(local_err);
+            error_report_err(local_err);
             return NULL;
         }
     }
@@ -759,8 +758,7 @@ DriveInfo *drive_new(QemuOpts *all_opts, BlockInterfaceType block_default_type)
                                    &error_abort);
     qemu_opts_absorb_qdict(legacy_opts, bs_opts, &local_err);
     if (local_err) {
-        error_report("%s", error_get_pretty(local_err));
-        error_free(local_err);
+        error_report_err(local_err);
         goto fail;
     }
 
@@ -975,8 +973,7 @@ DriveInfo *drive_new(QemuOpts *all_opts, BlockInterfaceType block_default_type)
     bs_opts = NULL;
     if (!blk) {
         if (local_err) {
-            error_report("%s", error_get_pretty(local_err));
-            error_free(local_err);
+            error_report_err(local_err);
         }
         goto fail;
     } else {
@@ -1970,8 +1967,7 @@ int hmp_drive_del(Monitor *mon, const QDict *qdict, QObject **ret_data)
     aio_context_acquire(aio_context);
 
     if (bdrv_op_is_blocked(bs, BLOCK_OP_TYPE_DRIVE_DEL, &local_err)) {
-        error_report("%s", error_get_pretty(local_err));
-        error_free(local_err);
+        error_report_err(local_err);
         aio_context_release(aio_context);
         return -1;
     }
diff --git a/hw/arm/exynos4210.c b/hw/arm/exynos4210.c
index 97dafca49a..c55fab8131 100644
--- a/hw/arm/exynos4210.c
+++ b/hw/arm/exynos4210.c
@@ -158,7 +158,7 @@ Exynos4210State *exynos4210_init(MemoryRegion *system_mem,
         if (object_property_find(cpuobj, "has_el3", NULL)) {
             object_property_set_bool(cpuobj, false, "has_el3", &err);
             if (err) {
-                error_report("%s", error_get_pretty(err));
+                error_report_err(err);
                 exit(1);
             }
         }
@@ -168,7 +168,7 @@ Exynos4210State *exynos4210_init(MemoryRegion *system_mem,
                                 "reset-cbar", &error_abort);
         object_property_set_bool(cpuobj, true, "realized", &err);
         if (err) {
-            error_report("%s", error_get_pretty(err));
+            error_report_err(err);
             exit(1);
         }
     }
diff --git a/hw/arm/highbank.c b/hw/arm/highbank.c
index f67570a7ee..a92cdc3322 100644
--- a/hw/arm/highbank.c
+++ b/hw/arm/highbank.c
@@ -248,7 +248,7 @@ static void calxeda_init(MachineState *machine, enum cxmachines machine_id)
         if (object_property_find(cpuobj, "has_el3", NULL)) {
             object_property_set_bool(cpuobj, false, "has_el3", &err);
             if (err) {
-                error_report("%s", error_get_pretty(err));
+                error_report_err(err);
                 exit(1);
             }
         }
@@ -259,7 +259,7 @@ static void calxeda_init(MachineState *machine, enum cxmachines machine_id)
         }
         object_property_set_bool(cpuobj, true, "realized", &err);
         if (err) {
-            error_report("%s", error_get_pretty(err));
+            error_report_err(err);
             exit(1);
         }
         cpu_irq[n] = qdev_get_gpio_in(DEVICE(cpu), ARM_CPU_IRQ);
diff --git a/hw/arm/integratorcp.c b/hw/arm/integratorcp.c
index 8c48b68a34..949ae1ed39 100644
--- a/hw/arm/integratorcp.c
+++ b/hw/arm/integratorcp.c
@@ -500,14 +500,14 @@ static void integratorcp_init(MachineState *machine)
     if (object_property_find(cpuobj, "has_el3", NULL)) {
         object_property_set_bool(cpuobj, false, "has_el3", &err);
         if (err) {
-            error_report("%s", error_get_pretty(err));
+            error_report_err(err);
             exit(1);
         }
     }
 
     object_property_set_bool(cpuobj, true, "realized", &err);
     if (err) {
-        error_report("%s", error_get_pretty(err));
+        error_report_err(err);
         exit(1);
     }
 
diff --git a/hw/arm/realview.c b/hw/arm/realview.c
index 50cb93d8ac..ef2788d3eb 100644
--- a/hw/arm/realview.c
+++ b/hw/arm/realview.c
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ static void realview_init(MachineState *machine,
         if (object_property_find(cpuobj, "has_el3", NULL)) {
             object_property_set_bool(cpuobj, false, "has_el3", &err);
             if (err) {
-                error_report("%s", error_get_pretty(err));
+                error_report_err(err);
                 exit(1);
             }
         }
@@ -116,14 +116,14 @@ static void realview_init(MachineState *machine,
         if (is_pb && is_mpcore) {
             object_property_set_int(cpuobj, periphbase, "reset-cbar", &err);
             if (err) {
-                error_report("%s", error_get_pretty(err));
+                error_report_err(err);
                 exit(1);
             }
         }
 
         object_property_set_bool(cpuobj, true, "realized", &err);
         if (err) {
-            error_report("%s", error_get_pretty(err));
+            error_report_err(err);
             exit(1);
         }
 
diff --git a/hw/arm/versatilepb.c b/hw/arm/versatilepb.c
index b1dae77604..624fdb09bb 100644
--- a/hw/arm/versatilepb.c
+++ b/hw/arm/versatilepb.c
@@ -213,14 +213,14 @@ static void versatile_init(MachineState *machine, int board_id)
     if (object_property_find(cpuobj, "has_el3", NULL)) {
         object_property_set_bool(cpuobj, false, "has_el3", &err);
         if (err) {
-            error_report("%s", error_get_pretty(err));
+            error_report_err(err);
             exit(1);
         }
     }
 
     object_property_set_bool(cpuobj, true, "realized", &err);
     if (err) {
-        error_report("%s", error_get_pretty(err));
+        error_report_err(err);
         exit(1);
     }
 
diff --git a/hw/arm/vexpress.c b/hw/arm/vexpress.c
index 84415c8b0a..5933454cfd 100644
--- a/hw/arm/vexpress.c
+++ b/hw/arm/vexpress.c
@@ -223,7 +223,7 @@ static void init_cpus(const char *cpu_model, const char *privdev,
         }
         object_property_set_bool(cpuobj, true, "realized", &err);
         if (err) {
-            error_report("%s", error_get_pretty(err));
+            error_report_err(err);
             exit(1);
         }
     }
diff --git a/hw/arm/xilinx_zynq.c b/hw/arm/xilinx_zynq.c
index 06e6e24da1..5c37521422 100644
--- a/hw/arm/xilinx_zynq.c
+++ b/hw/arm/xilinx_zynq.c
@@ -133,25 +133,25 @@ static void zynq_init(MachineState *machine)
     if (object_property_find(OBJECT(cpu), "has_el3", NULL)) {
         object_property_set_bool(OBJECT(cpu), false, "has_el3", &err);
         if (err) {
-            error_report("%s", error_get_pretty(err));
+            error_report_err(err);
             exit(1);
         }
     }
 
     object_property_set_int(OBJECT(cpu), ZYNQ_BOARD_MIDR, "midr", &err);
     if (err) {
-        error_report("%s", error_get_pretty(err));
+        error_report_err(err);
         exit(1);
     }
 
     object_property_set_int(OBJECT(cpu), MPCORE_PERIPHBASE, "reset-cbar", &err);
     if (err) {
-        error_report("%s", error_get_pretty(err));
+        error_report_err(err);
         exit(1);
     }
     object_property_set_bool(OBJECT(cpu), true, "realized", &err);
     if (err) {
-        error_report("%s", error_get_pretty(err));
+        error_report_err(err);
         exit(1);
     }
 
diff --git a/hw/block/virtio-blk.c b/hw/block/virtio-blk.c
index 1a8a176dcc..cb71772f95 100644
--- a/hw/block/virtio-blk.c
+++ b/hw/block/virtio-blk.c
@@ -858,8 +858,7 @@ static void virtio_blk_migration_state_changed(Notifier *notifier, void *data)
         virtio_blk_data_plane_create(VIRTIO_DEVICE(s), &s->conf,
                                      &s->dataplane, &err);
         if (err != NULL) {
-            error_report("%s", error_get_pretty(err));
-            error_free(err);
+            error_report_err(err);
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/hw/char/serial.c b/hw/char/serial.c
index 04918979d8..55011cfd26 100644
--- a/hw/char/serial.c
+++ b/hw/char/serial.c
@@ -906,8 +906,7 @@ SerialState *serial_init(int base, qemu_irq irq, int baudbase,
     s->chr = chr;
     serial_realize_core(s, &err);
     if (err != NULL) {
-        error_report("%s", error_get_pretty(err));
-        error_free(err);
+        error_report_err(err);
         exit(1);
     }
 
@@ -970,8 +969,7 @@ SerialState *serial_mm_init(MemoryRegion *address_space,
 
     serial_realize_core(s, &err);
     if (err != NULL) {
-        error_report("%s", error_get_pretty(err));
-        error_free(err);
+        error_report_err(err);
         exit(1);
     }
     vmstate_register(NULL, base, &vmstate_serial, s);
diff --git a/hw/i386/kvm/pci-assign.c b/hw/i386/kvm/pci-assign.c
index bb206da05f..bd92c69916 100644
--- a/hw/i386/kvm/pci-assign.c
+++ b/hw/i386/kvm/pci-assign.c
@@ -552,9 +552,8 @@ static void get_real_device(AssignedDevice *pci_dev, Error **errp)
     snprintf(name, sizeof(name), "%sconfig", dir);
 
     if (pci_dev->configfd_name && *pci_dev->configfd_name) {
-        dev->config_fd = monitor_handle_fd_param2(cur_mon,
-                                                  pci_dev->configfd_name,
-                                                  &local_err);
+        dev->config_fd = monitor_fd_param(cur_mon, pci_dev->configfd_name,
+                                          &local_err);
         if (local_err) {
             error_propagate(errp, local_err);
             return;
@@ -953,8 +952,7 @@ static void assigned_dev_update_irq_routing(PCIDevice *dev)
 
     r = assign_intx(assigned_dev, &err);
     if (r < 0) {
-        error_report("%s", error_get_pretty(err));
-        error_free(err);
+        error_report_err(err);
         err = NULL;
         qdev_unplug(&dev->qdev, &err);
         assert(!err);
@@ -1010,8 +1008,7 @@ static void assigned_dev_update_msi(PCIDevice *pci_dev)
 
         assign_intx(assigned_dev, &local_err);
         if (local_err) {
-            error_report("%s", error_get_pretty(local_err));
-            error_free(local_err);
+            error_report_err(local_err);
         }
     }
 }
@@ -1158,8 +1155,7 @@ static void assigned_dev_update_msix(PCIDevice *pci_dev)
 
         assign_intx(assigned_dev, &local_err);
         if (local_err) {
-            error_report("%s", error_get_pretty(local_err));
-            error_free(local_err);
+            error_report_err(local_err);
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/hw/i386/pc.c b/hw/i386/pc.c
index c7af6aae01..05008cbf6a 100644
--- a/hw/i386/pc.c
+++ b/hw/i386/pc.c
@@ -414,7 +414,7 @@ void pc_cmos_init(ram_addr_t ram_size, ram_addr_t above_4g_mem_size,
 
     set_boot_dev(s, boot_device, &local_err);
     if (local_err) {
-        error_report("%s", error_get_pretty(local_err));
+        error_report_err(local_err);
         exit(1);
     }
 
@@ -1040,8 +1040,7 @@ void pc_cpus_init(const char *cpu_model, DeviceState *icc_bridge)
         cpu = pc_new_cpu(cpu_model, x86_cpu_apic_id_from_index(i),
                          icc_bridge, &error);
         if (error) {
-            error_report("%s", error_get_pretty(error));
-            error_free(error);
+            error_report_err(error);
             exit(1);
         }
     }
diff --git a/hw/i386/smbios.c b/hw/i386/smbios.c
index 12d213769d..f2e9ab62ce 100644
--- a/hw/i386/smbios.c
+++ b/hw/i386/smbios.c
@@ -908,7 +908,7 @@ void smbios_entry_add(QemuOpts *opts)
 
         qemu_opts_validate(opts, qemu_smbios_file_opts, &local_err);
         if (local_err) {
-            error_report("%s", error_get_pretty(local_err));
+            error_report_err(local_err);
             exit(1);
         }
 
@@ -994,7 +994,7 @@ void smbios_entry_add(QemuOpts *opts)
         case 0:
             qemu_opts_validate(opts, qemu_smbios_type0_opts, &local_err);
             if (local_err) {
-                error_report("%s", error_get_pretty(local_err));
+                error_report_err(local_err);
                 exit(1);
             }
             save_opt(&type0.vendor, opts, "vendor");
@@ -1014,7 +1014,7 @@ void smbios_entry_add(QemuOpts *opts)
         case 1:
             qemu_opts_validate(opts, qemu_smbios_type1_opts, &local_err);
             if (local_err) {
-                error_report("%s", error_get_pretty(local_err));
+                error_report_err(local_err);
                 exit(1);
             }
             save_opt(&type1.manufacturer, opts, "manufacturer");
@@ -1036,7 +1036,7 @@ void smbios_entry_add(QemuOpts *opts)
         case 2:
             qemu_opts_validate(opts, qemu_smbios_type2_opts, &local_err);
             if (local_err) {
-                error_report("%s", error_get_pretty(local_err));
+                error_report_err(local_err);
                 exit(1);
             }
             save_opt(&type2.manufacturer, opts, "manufacturer");
@@ -1049,7 +1049,7 @@ void smbios_entry_add(QemuOpts *opts)
         case 3:
             qemu_opts_validate(opts, qemu_smbios_type3_opts, &local_err);
             if (local_err) {
-                error_report("%s", error_get_pretty(local_err));
+                error_report_err(local_err);
                 exit(1);
             }
             save_opt(&type3.manufacturer, opts, "manufacturer");
@@ -1061,7 +1061,7 @@ void smbios_entry_add(QemuOpts *opts)
         case 4:
             qemu_opts_validate(opts, qemu_smbios_type4_opts, &local_err);
             if (local_err) {
-                error_report("%s", error_get_pretty(local_err));
+                error_report_err(local_err);
                 exit(1);
             }
             save_opt(&type4.sock_pfx, opts, "sock_pfx");
@@ -1074,7 +1074,7 @@ void smbios_entry_add(QemuOpts *opts)
         case 17:
             qemu_opts_validate(opts, qemu_smbios_type17_opts, &local_err);
             if (local_err) {
-                error_report("%s", error_get_pretty(local_err));
+                error_report_err(local_err);
                 exit(1);
             }
             save_opt(&type17.loc_pfx, opts, "loc_pfx");
diff --git a/hw/ide/qdev.c b/hw/ide/qdev.c
index 1ebb58d36d..b4103fa009 100644
--- a/hw/ide/qdev.c
+++ b/hw/ide/qdev.c
@@ -172,8 +172,7 @@ static int ide_dev_initfn(IDEDevice *dev, IDEDriveKind kind)
     if (kind != IDE_CD) {
         blkconf_geometry(&dev->conf, &dev->chs_trans, 65536, 16, 255, &err);
         if (err) {
-            error_report("%s", error_get_pretty(err));
-            error_free(err);
+            error_report_err(err);
             return -1;
         }
     }
diff --git a/hw/pci/pci-hotplug-old.c b/hw/pci/pci-hotplug-old.c
index a0ef90c7f8..beea6d2b02 100644
--- a/hw/pci/pci-hotplug-old.c
+++ b/hw/pci/pci-hotplug-old.c
@@ -132,8 +132,7 @@ static int scsi_hot_add(Monitor *mon, DeviceState *adapter,
                                         dinfo->unit, false, -1, NULL,
                                         &local_err);
     if (!scsidev) {
-        error_report("%s", error_get_pretty(local_err));
-        error_free(local_err);
+        error_report_err(local_err);
         return -1;
     }
     dinfo->unit = scsidev->id;
diff --git a/hw/pci/pci.c b/hw/pci/pci.c
index d50893002d..31b222d8c0 100644
--- a/hw/pci/pci.c
+++ b/hw/pci/pci.c
@@ -2038,8 +2038,7 @@ int pci_add_capability(PCIDevice *pdev, uint8_t cap_id,
     ret = pci_add_capability2(pdev, cap_id, offset, size, &local_err);
     if (local_err) {
         assert(ret < 0);
-        error_report("%s", error_get_pretty(local_err));
-        error_free(local_err);
+        error_report_err(local_err);
     } else {
         /* success implies a positive offset in config space */
         assert(ret > 0);
diff --git a/hw/scsi/vhost-scsi.c b/hw/scsi/vhost-scsi.c
index e30ff84c0c..618b0af186 100644
--- a/hw/scsi/vhost-scsi.c
+++ b/hw/scsi/vhost-scsi.c
@@ -215,9 +215,11 @@ static void vhost_scsi_realize(DeviceState *dev, Error **errp)
     }
 
     if (vs->conf.vhostfd) {
-        vhostfd = monitor_handle_fd_param(cur_mon, vs->conf.vhostfd);
+        vhostfd = monitor_fd_param(cur_mon, vs->conf.vhostfd, &err);
         if (vhostfd == -1) {
-            error_setg(errp, "vhost-scsi: unable to parse vhostfd");
+            error_setg(errp, "vhost-scsi: unable to parse vhostfd: %s",
+                       error_get_pretty(err));
+            error_free(err);
             return;
         }
     } else {
diff --git a/hw/usb/dev-network.c b/hw/usb/dev-network.c
index 7131abdb21..b27b1f441e 100644
--- a/hw/usb/dev-network.c
+++ b/hw/usb/dev-network.c
@@ -1399,8 +1399,7 @@ static USBDevice *usb_net_init(USBBus *bus, const char *cmdline)
 
     idx = net_client_init(opts, 0, &local_err);
     if (local_err) {
-        error_report("%s", error_get_pretty(local_err));
-        error_free(local_err);
+        error_report_err(local_err);
         return NULL;
     }
 
diff --git a/hw/usb/host-libusb.c b/hw/usb/host-libusb.c
index 625aec8d24..10f4735ddf 100644
--- a/hw/usb/host-libusb.c
+++ b/hw/usb/host-libusb.c
@@ -878,8 +878,7 @@ static int usb_host_open(USBHostDevice *s, libusb_device *dev)
 
     usb_device_attach(udev, &local_err);
     if (local_err) {
-        error_report("%s", error_get_pretty(local_err));
-        error_free(local_err);
+        error_report_err(local_err);
         goto fail;
     }
 
diff --git a/hw/usb/redirect.c b/hw/usb/redirect.c
index 962d3f5118..2416de83e9 100644
--- a/hw/usb/redirect.c
+++ b/hw/usb/redirect.c
@@ -1273,8 +1273,7 @@ static void usbredir_do_attach(void *opaque)
 
     usb_device_attach(&dev->dev, &local_err);
     if (local_err) {
-        error_report("%s", error_get_pretty(local_err));
-        error_free(local_err);
+        error_report_err(local_err);
         WARNING("rejecting device due to speed mismatch\n");
         usbredir_reject_device(dev);
     }
diff --git a/include/monitor/monitor.h b/include/monitor/monitor.h
index 47606d04ad..1c06bed39d 100644
--- a/include/monitor/monitor.h
+++ b/include/monitor/monitor.h
@@ -34,8 +34,7 @@ int monitor_read_block_device_key(Monitor *mon, const char *device,
                                   void *opaque);
 
 int monitor_get_fd(Monitor *mon, const char *fdname, Error **errp);
-int monitor_handle_fd_param(Monitor *mon, const char *fdname);
-int monitor_handle_fd_param2(Monitor *mon, const char *fdname, Error **errp);
+int monitor_fd_param(Monitor *mon, const char *fdname, Error **errp);
 
 void monitor_vprintf(Monitor *mon, const char *fmt, va_list ap)
     GCC_FMT_ATTR(2, 0);
diff --git a/include/qapi/error.h b/include/qapi/error.h
index d712089f1a..f44c451830 100644
--- a/include/qapi/error.h
+++ b/include/qapi/error.h
@@ -82,6 +82,11 @@ Error *error_copy(const Error *err);
  */
 const char *error_get_pretty(Error *err);
 
+/**
+ * Convenience function to error_report() and free an error object.
+ */
+void error_report_err(Error *);
+
 /**
  * Propagate an error to an indirect pointer to an error.  This function will
  * always transfer ownership of the error reference and handles the case where
diff --git a/monitor.c b/monitor.c
index 24a9af4f78..4f941e6d67 100644
--- a/monitor.c
+++ b/monitor.c
@@ -889,8 +889,7 @@ static void hmp_trace_event(Monitor *mon, const QDict *qdict)
 
     qmp_trace_event_set_state(tp_name, new_state, true, true, &local_err);
     if (local_err) {
-        qerror_report_err(local_err);
-        error_free(local_err);
+        error_report_err(local_err);
     }
 }
 
@@ -2570,20 +2569,7 @@ void monitor_fdset_dup_fd_remove(int dup_fd)
     monitor_fdset_dup_fd_find_remove(dup_fd, true);
 }
 
-int monitor_handle_fd_param(Monitor *mon, const char *fdname)
-{
-    int fd;
-    Error *local_err = NULL;
-
-    fd = monitor_handle_fd_param2(mon, fdname, &local_err);
-    if (local_err) {
-        qerror_report_err(local_err);
-        error_free(local_err);
-    }
-    return fd;
-}
-
-int monitor_handle_fd_param2(Monitor *mon, const char *fdname, Error **errp)
+int monitor_fd_param(Monitor *mon, const char *fdname, Error **errp)
 {
     int fd;
     Error *local_err = NULL;
diff --git a/net/net.c b/net/net.c
index 73d8ee99f9..5146361f07 100644
--- a/net/net.c
+++ b/net/net.c
@@ -974,8 +974,7 @@ void hmp_host_net_add(Monitor *mon, const QDict *qdict)
 
     net_client_init(opts, 0, &local_err);
     if (local_err) {
-        qerror_report_err(local_err);
-        error_free(local_err);
+        error_report_err(local_err);
         monitor_printf(mon, "adding host network device %s failed\n", device);
     }
 }
@@ -1270,8 +1269,7 @@ static int net_init_client(QemuOpts *opts, void *dummy)
 
     net_client_init(opts, 0, &local_err);
     if (local_err) {
-        qerror_report_err(local_err);
-        error_free(local_err);
+        error_report_err(local_err);
         return -1;
     }
 
@@ -1285,8 +1283,7 @@ static int net_init_netdev(QemuOpts *opts, void *dummy)
 
     ret = net_client_init(opts, 1, &local_err);
     if (local_err) {
-        qerror_report_err(local_err);
-        error_free(local_err);
+        error_report_err(local_err);
         return -1;
     }
 
diff --git a/net/socket.c b/net/socket.c
index 68a93cd7e3..c30e03f5ae 100644
--- a/net/socket.c
+++ b/net/socket.c
@@ -695,6 +695,7 @@ static int net_socket_udp_init(NetClientState *peer,
 int net_init_socket(const NetClientOptions *opts, const char *name,
                     NetClientState *peer)
 {
+    Error *err = NULL;
     const NetdevSocketOptions *sock;
 
     assert(opts->kind == NET_CLIENT_OPTIONS_KIND_SOCKET);
@@ -715,8 +716,9 @@ int net_init_socket(const NetClientOptions *opts, const char *name,
     if (sock->has_fd) {
         int fd;
 
-        fd = monitor_handle_fd_param(cur_mon, sock->fd);
+        fd = monitor_fd_param(cur_mon, sock->fd, &err);
         if (fd == -1) {
+            error_report_err(err);
             return -1;
         }
         qemu_set_nonblock(fd);
diff --git a/net/tap.c b/net/tap.c
index 1fe0edfdf7..968df46c8c 100644
--- a/net/tap.c
+++ b/net/tap.c
@@ -605,6 +605,7 @@ static int net_init_tap_one(const NetdevTapOptions *tap, NetClientState *peer,
                             const char *downscript, const char *vhostfdname,
                             int vnet_hdr, int fd)
 {
+    Error *err = NULL;
     TAPState *s;
     int vhostfd;
 
@@ -643,8 +644,9 @@ static int net_init_tap_one(const NetdevTapOptions *tap, NetClientState *peer,
         options.force = tap->has_vhostforce && tap->vhostforce;
 
         if (tap->has_vhostfd || tap->has_vhostfds) {
-            vhostfd = monitor_handle_fd_param(cur_mon, vhostfdname);
+            vhostfd = monitor_fd_param(cur_mon, vhostfdname, &err);
             if (vhostfd == -1) {
+                error_report_err(err);
                 return -1;
             }
         } else {
@@ -704,6 +706,7 @@ int net_init_tap(const NetClientOptions *opts, const char *name,
     /* for the no-fd, no-helper case */
     const char *script = NULL; /* suppress wrong "uninit'd use" gcc warning */
     const char *downscript = NULL;
+    Error *err = NULL;
     const char *vhostfdname;
     char ifname[128];
 
@@ -729,8 +732,9 @@ int net_init_tap(const NetClientOptions *opts, const char *name,
             return -1;
         }
 
-        fd = monitor_handle_fd_param(cur_mon, tap->fd);
+        fd = monitor_fd_param(cur_mon, tap->fd, &err);
         if (fd == -1) {
+            error_report_err(err);
             return -1;
         }
 
@@ -768,8 +772,9 @@ int net_init_tap(const NetClientOptions *opts, const char *name,
         }
 
         for (i = 0; i < nfds; i++) {
-            fd = monitor_handle_fd_param(cur_mon, fds[i]);
+            fd = monitor_fd_param(cur_mon, fds[i], &err);
             if (fd == -1) {
+                error_report_err(err);
                 return -1;
             }
 
diff --git a/numa.c b/numa.c
index afd28666b3..f8fc3778cd 100644
--- a/numa.c
+++ b/numa.c
@@ -146,8 +146,7 @@ int numa_init_func(QemuOpts *opts, void *opaque)
     return 0;
 
 error:
-    qerror_report_err(err);
-    error_free(err);
+    error_report_err(err);
 
     if (object) {
         QapiDeallocVisitor *dv = qapi_dealloc_visitor_new();
@@ -262,8 +261,7 @@ static void allocate_system_memory_nonnuma(MemoryRegion *mr, Object *owner,
          * regular RAM allocation.
          */
         if (err) {
-            qerror_report_err(err);
-            error_free(err);
+            error_report_err(err);
             memory_region_init_ram(mr, owner, name, ram_size, &error_abort);
         }
 #else
@@ -298,7 +296,7 @@ void memory_region_allocate_system_memory(MemoryRegion *mr, Object *owner,
         }
         MemoryRegion *seg = host_memory_backend_get_memory(backend, &local_err);
         if (local_err) {
-            qerror_report_err(local_err);
+            error_report_err(local_err);
             exit(1);
         }
 
diff --git a/qemu-char.c b/qemu-char.c
index 98d434237f..8159462fc0 100644
--- a/qemu-char.c
+++ b/qemu-char.c
@@ -3306,8 +3306,7 @@ QemuOpts *qemu_chr_parse_compat(const char *label, const char *filename)
 
     opts = qemu_opts_create(qemu_find_opts("chardev"), label, 1, &local_err);
     if (local_err) {
-        qerror_report_err(local_err);
-        error_free(local_err);
+        error_report_err(local_err);
         return NULL;
     }
 
@@ -3753,8 +3752,7 @@ CharDriverState *qemu_chr_new(const char *label, const char *filename, void (*in
 
     chr = qemu_chr_new_from_opts(opts, init, &err);
     if (err) {
-        error_report("%s", error_get_pretty(err));
-        error_free(err);
+        error_report_err(err);
     }
     if (chr && qemu_opt_get_bool(opts, "mux", 0)) {
         qemu_chr_fe_claim_no_fail(chr);
diff --git a/qemu-img.c b/qemu-img.c
index 0155e36283..fcdfb6719e 100644
--- a/qemu-img.c
+++ b/qemu-img.c
@@ -883,8 +883,7 @@ done:
     blk_unref(blk);
 
     if (local_err) {
-        qerror_report_err(local_err);
-        error_free(local_err);
+        error_report_err(local_err);
         return 1;
     }
 
@@ -2001,8 +2000,7 @@ static ImageInfoList *collect_image_info_list(const char *filename,
 
         bdrv_query_image_info(bs, &info, &err);
         if (err) {
-            error_report("%s", error_get_pretty(err));
-            error_free(err);
+            error_report_err(err);
             blk_unref(blk);
             goto err;
         }
@@ -3043,8 +3041,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
     qemu_init_exec_dir(argv[0]);
 
     if (qemu_init_main_loop(&local_error)) {
-        error_report("%s", error_get_pretty(local_error));
-        error_free(local_error);
+        error_report_err(local_error);
         exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
     }
 
diff --git a/qemu-io.c b/qemu-io.c
index 4a3e71991a..8e41080cc9 100644
--- a/qemu-io.c
+++ b/qemu-io.c
@@ -440,8 +440,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
     }
 
     if (qemu_init_main_loop(&local_error)) {
-        error_report("%s", error_get_pretty(local_error));
-        error_free(local_error);
+        error_report_err(local_error);
         exit(1);
     }
 
diff --git a/qemu-nbd.c b/qemu-nbd.c
index ac1e5d6f77..064b000b43 100644
--- a/qemu-nbd.c
+++ b/qemu-nbd.c
@@ -228,8 +228,7 @@ static int tcp_socket_incoming(const char *address, uint16_t port)
     int fd = inet_listen(address_and_port, NULL, 0, SOCK_STREAM, 0, &local_err);
 
     if (local_err != NULL) {
-        error_report("%s", error_get_pretty(local_err));
-        error_free(local_err);
+        error_report_err(local_err);
     }
     return fd;
 }
@@ -240,8 +239,7 @@ static int unix_socket_incoming(const char *path)
     int fd = unix_listen(path, NULL, 0, &local_err);
 
     if (local_err != NULL) {
-        error_report("%s", error_get_pretty(local_err));
-        error_free(local_err);
+        error_report_err(local_err);
     }
     return fd;
 }
@@ -252,8 +250,7 @@ static int unix_socket_outgoing(const char *path)
     int fd = unix_connect(path, &local_err);
 
     if (local_err != NULL) {
-        error_report("%s", error_get_pretty(local_err));
-        error_free(local_err);
+        error_report_err(local_err);
     }
     return fd;
 }
@@ -681,8 +678,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
     }
 
     if (qemu_init_main_loop(&local_err)) {
-        error_report("%s", error_get_pretty(local_err));
-        error_free(local_err);
+        error_report_err(local_err);
         exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
     }
     bdrv_init();
diff --git a/qom/cpu.c b/qom/cpu.c
index 9c68fa4810..970377e960 100644
--- a/qom/cpu.c
+++ b/qom/cpu.c
@@ -71,8 +71,7 @@ CPUState *cpu_generic_init(const char *typename, const char *cpu_model)
 
 out:
     if (err != NULL) {
-        error_report("%s", error_get_pretty(err));
-        error_free(err);
+        error_report_err(err);
         object_unref(OBJECT(cpu));
         return NULL;
     }
diff --git a/target-i386/cpu.c b/target-i386/cpu.c
index 3a9b32ef7d..d543e2b537 100644
--- a/target-i386/cpu.c
+++ b/target-i386/cpu.c
@@ -2163,8 +2163,7 @@ X86CPU *cpu_x86_init(const char *cpu_model)
 
 out:
     if (error) {
-        error_report("%s", error_get_pretty(error));
-        error_free(error);
+        error_report_err(error);
         if (cpu != NULL) {
             object_unref(OBJECT(cpu));
             cpu = NULL;
diff --git a/target-sparc/cpu.c b/target-sparc/cpu.c
index aa7626c1bf..a952097096 100644
--- a/target-sparc/cpu.c
+++ b/target-sparc/cpu.c
@@ -111,8 +111,7 @@ static int cpu_sparc_register(SPARCCPU *cpu, const char *cpu_model)
     cc->parse_features(CPU(cpu), featurestr, &err);
     g_free(s);
     if (err) {
-        error_report("%s", error_get_pretty(err));
-        error_free(err);
+        error_report_err(err);
         return -1;
     }
 
diff --git a/tpm.c b/tpm.c
index c371023b1c..4ffd9b927e 100644
--- a/tpm.c
+++ b/tpm.c
@@ -162,8 +162,7 @@ static int configure_tpm(QemuOpts *opts)
     /* validate backend specific opts */
     qemu_opts_validate(opts, be->opts, &local_err);
     if (local_err) {
-        qerror_report_err(local_err);
-        error_free(local_err);
+        error_report_err(local_err);
         return 1;
     }
 
@@ -174,8 +173,7 @@ static int configure_tpm(QemuOpts *opts)
 
     tpm_backend_open(drv, &local_err);
     if (local_err) {
-        qerror_report_err(local_err);
-        error_free(local_err);
+        error_report_err(local_err);
         return 1;
     }
 
diff --git a/util/error.c b/util/error.c
index 2ace0d8dd9..14f4351879 100644
--- a/util/error.c
+++ b/util/error.c
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ void error_set(Error **errp, ErrorClass err_class, const char *fmt, ...)
     err->err_class = err_class;
 
     if (errp == &error_abort) {
-        error_report("%s", error_get_pretty(err));
+        error_report_err(err);
         abort();
     }
 
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ void error_set_errno(Error **errp, int os_errno, ErrorClass err_class,
     err->err_class = err_class;
 
     if (errp == &error_abort) {
-        error_report("%s", error_get_pretty(err));
+        error_report_err(err);
         abort();
     }
 
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ void error_set_win32(Error **errp, int win32_err, ErrorClass err_class,
     err->err_class = err_class;
 
     if (errp == &error_abort) {
-        error_report("%s", error_get_pretty(err));
+        error_report_err(err);
         abort();
     }
 
@@ -152,6 +152,12 @@ const char *error_get_pretty(Error *err)
     return err->msg;
 }
 
+void error_report_err(Error *err)
+{
+    error_report("%s", error_get_pretty(err));
+    error_free(err);
+}
+
 void error_free(Error *err)
 {
     if (err) {
@@ -163,7 +169,7 @@ void error_free(Error *err)
 void error_propagate(Error **dst_errp, Error *local_err)
 {
     if (local_err && dst_errp == &error_abort) {
-        error_report("%s", error_get_pretty(local_err));
+        error_report_err(local_err);
         abort();
     } else if (dst_errp && !*dst_errp) {
         *dst_errp = local_err;
diff --git a/util/qemu-config.c b/util/qemu-config.c
index ba375c0148..b13efe2788 100644
--- a/util/qemu-config.c
+++ b/util/qemu-config.c
@@ -32,8 +32,7 @@ QemuOptsList *qemu_find_opts(const char *group)
 
     ret = find_list(vm_config_groups, group, &local_err);
     if (local_err) {
-        error_report("%s", error_get_pretty(local_err));
-        error_free(local_err);
+        error_report_err(local_err);
     }
 
     return ret;
@@ -314,8 +313,7 @@ int qemu_config_parse(FILE *fp, QemuOptsList **lists, const char *fname)
             /* group with id */
             list = find_list(lists, group, &local_err);
             if (local_err) {
-                error_report("%s", error_get_pretty(local_err));
-                error_free(local_err);
+                error_report_err(local_err);
                 goto out;
             }
             opts = qemu_opts_create(list, id, 1, NULL);
@@ -325,8 +323,7 @@ int qemu_config_parse(FILE *fp, QemuOptsList **lists, const char *fname)
             /* group without id */
             list = find_list(lists, group, &local_err);
             if (local_err) {
-                error_report("%s", error_get_pretty(local_err));
-                error_free(local_err);
+                error_report_err(local_err);
                 goto out;
             }
             opts = qemu_opts_create(list, NULL, 0, &error_abort);
diff --git a/vl.c b/vl.c
index 7e6e93c9f0..e1ffd0a96a 100644
--- a/vl.c
+++ b/vl.c
@@ -2137,8 +2137,7 @@ static int chardev_init_func(QemuOpts *opts, void *opaque)
 
     qemu_chr_new_from_opts(opts, NULL, &local_err);
     if (local_err) {
-        error_report("%s", error_get_pretty(local_err));
-        error_free(local_err);
+        error_report_err(local_err);
         return -1;
     }
     return 0;
@@ -2218,8 +2217,7 @@ static void monitor_parse(const char *optarg, const char *mode, bool pretty)
 
     opts = qemu_opts_create(qemu_find_opts("mon"), label, 1, &local_err);
     if (!opts) {
-        error_report("%s", error_get_pretty(local_err));
-        error_free(local_err);
+        error_report_err(local_err);
         exit(1);
     }
     qemu_opt_set(opts, "mode", mode);
@@ -2583,8 +2581,7 @@ static int machine_set_property(const char *name, const char *value,
     g_free(qom_name);
 
     if (local_err) {
-        qerror_report_err(local_err);
-        error_free(local_err);
+        error_report_err(local_err);
         return -1;
     }
 
@@ -2637,8 +2634,7 @@ out:
     g_free(type);
     g_free(dummy);
     if (err) {
-        qerror_report_err(err);
-        error_free(err);
+        error_report_err(err);
         return -1;
     }
     return 0;
@@ -3766,7 +3762,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv, char **envp)
     os_daemonize();
 
     if (qemu_init_main_loop(&main_loop_err)) {
-        error_report("%s", error_get_pretty(main_loop_err));
+        error_report_err(main_loop_err);
         exit(1);
     }
 
@@ -4033,8 +4029,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv, char **envp)
         Error *local_err = NULL;
         qtest_init(qtest_chrdev, qtest_log, &local_err);
         if (local_err) {
-            error_report("%s", error_get_pretty(local_err));
-            error_free(local_err);
+            error_report_err(local_err);
             exit(1);
         }
     }
@@ -4056,7 +4051,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv, char **envp)
         if (order) {
             validate_bootdevices(order, &local_err);
             if (local_err) {
-                error_report("%s", error_get_pretty(local_err));
+                error_report_err(local_err);
                 exit(1);
             }
             boot_order = order;
@@ -4066,7 +4061,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv, char **envp)
         if (once) {
             validate_bootdevices(once, &local_err);
             if (local_err) {
-                error_report("%s", error_get_pretty(local_err));
+                error_report_err(local_err);
                 exit(1);
             }
             normal_boot_order = g_strdup(boot_order);