diff --git a/block.c b/block.c
index 9b707e3d1b..28ea19aafb 100644
--- a/block.c
+++ b/block.c
@@ -1364,7 +1364,7 @@ int bdrv_append_temp_snapshot(BlockDriverState *bs, int flags, Error **errp)
 
     opts = qemu_opts_create(bdrv_qcow2.create_opts, NULL, 0,
                             &error_abort);
-    qemu_opt_set_number(opts, BLOCK_OPT_SIZE, total_size);
+    qemu_opt_set_number(opts, BLOCK_OPT_SIZE, total_size, &error_abort);
     ret = bdrv_create(&bdrv_qcow2, tmp_filename, opts, &local_err);
     qemu_opts_del(opts);
     if (ret < 0) {
@@ -5649,18 +5649,22 @@ void bdrv_img_create(const char *filename, const char *fmt,
 
     /* Create parameter list with default values */
     opts = qemu_opts_create(create_opts, NULL, 0, &error_abort);
-    qemu_opt_set_number(opts, BLOCK_OPT_SIZE, img_size);
+    qemu_opt_set_number(opts, BLOCK_OPT_SIZE, img_size, &error_abort);
 
     /* Parse -o options */
     if (options) {
-        if (qemu_opts_do_parse(opts, options, NULL) != 0) {
+        qemu_opts_do_parse(opts, options, NULL, &local_err);
+        if (local_err) {
+            error_report_err(local_err);
+            local_err = NULL;
             error_setg(errp, "Invalid options for file format '%s'", fmt);
             goto out;
         }
     }
 
     if (base_filename) {
-        if (qemu_opt_set(opts, BLOCK_OPT_BACKING_FILE, base_filename)) {
+        qemu_opt_set(opts, BLOCK_OPT_BACKING_FILE, base_filename, &local_err);
+        if (local_err) {
             error_setg(errp, "Backing file not supported for file format '%s'",
                        fmt);
             goto out;
@@ -5668,7 +5672,8 @@ void bdrv_img_create(const char *filename, const char *fmt,
     }
 
     if (base_fmt) {
-        if (qemu_opt_set(opts, BLOCK_OPT_BACKING_FMT, base_fmt)) {
+        qemu_opt_set(opts, BLOCK_OPT_BACKING_FMT, base_fmt, &local_err);
+        if (local_err) {
             error_setg(errp, "Backing file format not supported for file "
                              "format '%s'", fmt);
             goto out;
@@ -5731,7 +5736,7 @@ void bdrv_img_create(const char *filename, const char *fmt,
                 goto out;
             }
 
-            qemu_opt_set_number(opts, BLOCK_OPT_SIZE, size);
+            qemu_opt_set_number(opts, BLOCK_OPT_SIZE, size, &error_abort);
 
             bdrv_unref(bs);
         } else {
diff --git a/block/nbd.c b/block/nbd.c
index 2f3b9adf72..697c0219b4 100644
--- a/block/nbd.c
+++ b/block/nbd.c
@@ -215,7 +215,8 @@ static void nbd_config(BDRVNBDState *s, QDict *options, char **export,
     }
 
     if (!qemu_opt_get(s->socket_opts, "port")) {
-        qemu_opt_set_number(s->socket_opts, "port", NBD_DEFAULT_PORT);
+        qemu_opt_set_number(s->socket_opts, "port", NBD_DEFAULT_PORT,
+                            &error_abort);
     }
 
     *export = g_strdup(qdict_get_try_str(options, "export"));
diff --git a/block/qcow2.c b/block/qcow2.c
index 2ed8d95b1f..50e0a947df 100644
--- a/block/qcow2.c
+++ b/block/qcow2.c
@@ -1858,8 +1858,9 @@ static int qcow2_create2(const char *filename, int64_t total_size,
         meta_size += nreftablee * sizeof(uint64_t);
 
         qemu_opt_set_number(opts, BLOCK_OPT_SIZE,
-                            aligned_total_size + meta_size);
-        qemu_opt_set(opts, BLOCK_OPT_PREALLOC, PreallocMode_lookup[prealloc]);
+                            aligned_total_size + meta_size, &error_abort);
+        qemu_opt_set(opts, BLOCK_OPT_PREALLOC, PreallocMode_lookup[prealloc],
+                     &error_abort);
     }
 
     ret = bdrv_create_file(filename, opts, &local_err);
diff --git a/block/vvfat.c b/block/vvfat.c
index a1a44f0ef5..9be632f404 100644
--- a/block/vvfat.c
+++ b/block/vvfat.c
@@ -2924,8 +2924,9 @@ static int enable_write_target(BDRVVVFATState *s, Error **errp)
     }
 
     opts = qemu_opts_create(bdrv_qcow->create_opts, NULL, 0, &error_abort);
-    qemu_opt_set_number(opts, BLOCK_OPT_SIZE, s->sector_count * 512);
-    qemu_opt_set(opts, BLOCK_OPT_BACKING_FILE, "fat:");
+    qemu_opt_set_number(opts, BLOCK_OPT_SIZE, s->sector_count * 512,
+                        &error_abort);
+    qemu_opt_set(opts, BLOCK_OPT_BACKING_FILE, "fat:", &error_abort);
 
     ret = bdrv_create(bdrv_qcow, s->qcow_filename, opts, errp);
     qemu_opts_del(opts);
diff --git a/blockdev.c b/blockdev.c
index ae73539551..b9c1c0cc1a 100644
--- a/blockdev.c
+++ b/blockdev.c
@@ -180,21 +180,19 @@ QemuOpts *drive_add(BlockInterfaceType type, int index, const char *file,
                     const char *optstr)
 {
     QemuOpts *opts;
-    char buf[32];
 
     opts = drive_def(optstr);
     if (!opts) {
         return NULL;
     }
     if (type != IF_DEFAULT) {
-        qemu_opt_set(opts, "if", if_name[type]);
+        qemu_opt_set(opts, "if", if_name[type], &error_abort);
     }
     if (index >= 0) {
-        snprintf(buf, sizeof(buf), "%d", index);
-        qemu_opt_set(opts, "index", buf);
+        qemu_opt_set_number(opts, "index", index, &error_abort);
     }
     if (file)
-        qemu_opt_set(opts, "file", file);
+        qemu_opt_set(opts, "file", file, &error_abort);
     return opts;
 }
 
@@ -584,7 +582,7 @@ static void qemu_opt_rename(QemuOpts *opts, const char *from, const char *to,
 
     /* rename all items in opts */
     while ((value = qemu_opt_get(opts, from))) {
-        qemu_opt_set(opts, to, value);
+        qemu_opt_set(opts, to, value, &error_abort);
         qemu_opt_unset(opts, from);
     }
 }
@@ -737,15 +735,15 @@ DriveInfo *drive_new(QemuOpts *all_opts, BlockInterfaceType block_default_type)
         /* Specific options take precedence */
         if (!qemu_opt_get(all_opts, "cache.writeback")) {
             qemu_opt_set_bool(all_opts, "cache.writeback",
-                              !!(flags & BDRV_O_CACHE_WB));
+                              !!(flags & BDRV_O_CACHE_WB), &error_abort);
         }
         if (!qemu_opt_get(all_opts, "cache.direct")) {
             qemu_opt_set_bool(all_opts, "cache.direct",
-                              !!(flags & BDRV_O_NOCACHE));
+                              !!(flags & BDRV_O_NOCACHE), &error_abort);
         }
         if (!qemu_opt_get(all_opts, "cache.no-flush")) {
             qemu_opt_set_bool(all_opts, "cache.no-flush",
-                              !!(flags & BDRV_O_NO_FLUSH));
+                              !!(flags & BDRV_O_NO_FLUSH), &error_abort);
         }
         qemu_opt_unset(all_opts, "cache");
     }
@@ -935,13 +933,14 @@ DriveInfo *drive_new(QemuOpts *all_opts, BlockInterfaceType block_default_type)
         devopts = qemu_opts_create(qemu_find_opts("device"), NULL, 0,
                                    &error_abort);
         if (arch_type == QEMU_ARCH_S390X) {
-            qemu_opt_set(devopts, "driver", "virtio-blk-s390");
+            qemu_opt_set(devopts, "driver", "virtio-blk-s390", &error_abort);
         } else {
-            qemu_opt_set(devopts, "driver", "virtio-blk-pci");
+            qemu_opt_set(devopts, "driver", "virtio-blk-pci", &error_abort);
         }
-        qemu_opt_set(devopts, "drive", qdict_get_str(bs_opts, "id"));
+        qemu_opt_set(devopts, "drive", qdict_get_str(bs_opts, "id"),
+                     &error_abort);
         if (devaddr) {
-            qemu_opt_set(devopts, "addr", devaddr);
+            qemu_opt_set(devopts, "addr", devaddr, &error_abort);
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/hw/i386/pc.c b/hw/i386/pc.c
index 03dc007d8d..b229856a26 100644
--- a/hw/i386/pc.c
+++ b/hw/i386/pc.c
@@ -1138,15 +1138,11 @@ void pc_acpi_init(const char *default_dsdt)
     if (filename == NULL) {
         fprintf(stderr, "WARNING: failed to find %s\n", default_dsdt);
     } else {
-        char *arg;
-        QemuOpts *opts;
+        QemuOpts *opts = qemu_opts_create(qemu_find_opts("acpi"), NULL, 0,
+                                          &error_abort);
         Error *err = NULL;
 
-        arg = g_strdup_printf("file=%s", filename);
-
-        /* creates a deep copy of "arg" */
-        opts = qemu_opts_parse(qemu_find_opts("acpi"), arg, 0);
-        g_assert(opts != NULL);
+        qemu_opt_set(opts, "file", filename, &error_abort);
 
         acpi_table_add_builtin(opts, &err);
         if (err) {
@@ -1154,7 +1150,6 @@ void pc_acpi_init(const char *default_dsdt)
                          error_get_pretty(err));
             error_free(err);
         }
-        g_free(arg);
         g_free(filename);
     }
 }
diff --git a/hw/pci/pci-hotplug-old.c b/hw/pci/pci-hotplug-old.c
index beea6d2b02..501a918b89 100644
--- a/hw/pci/pci-hotplug-old.c
+++ b/hw/pci/pci-hotplug-old.c
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ static PCIDevice *qemu_pci_hot_add_nic(Monitor *mon,
         return NULL;
     }
 
-    qemu_opt_set(opts, "type", "nic");
+    qemu_opt_set(opts, "type", "nic", &error_abort);
 
     ret = net_client_init(opts, 0, &local_err);
     if (local_err) {
diff --git a/hw/usb/dev-network.c b/hw/usb/dev-network.c
index b27b1f441e..18669917f5 100644
--- a/hw/usb/dev-network.c
+++ b/hw/usb/dev-network.c
@@ -1394,8 +1394,8 @@ static USBDevice *usb_net_init(USBBus *bus, const char *cmdline)
     if (!opts) {
         return NULL;
     }
-    qemu_opt_set(opts, "type", "nic");
-    qemu_opt_set(opts, "model", "usb");
+    qemu_opt_set(opts, "type", "nic", &error_abort);
+    qemu_opt_set(opts, "model", "usb", &error_abort);
 
     idx = net_client_init(opts, 0, &local_err);
     if (local_err) {
diff --git a/hw/usb/dev-storage.c b/hw/usb/dev-storage.c
index af2e1b915d..65d9aa6147 100644
--- a/hw/usb/dev-storage.c
+++ b/hw/usb/dev-storage.c
@@ -683,7 +683,7 @@ static USBDevice *usb_msd_init(USBBus *bus, const char *filename)
         if (strstart(filename, "format=", &p2)) {
             int len = MIN(p1 - p2, sizeof(fmt));
             pstrcpy(fmt, len, p2);
-            qemu_opt_set(opts, "format", fmt);
+            qemu_opt_set(opts, "format", fmt, &error_abort);
         } else if (*filename != ':') {
             error_report("unrecognized USB mass-storage option %s", filename);
             return NULL;
@@ -694,8 +694,8 @@ static USBDevice *usb_msd_init(USBBus *bus, const char *filename)
         error_report("block device specification needed");
         return NULL;
     }
-    qemu_opt_set(opts, "file", filename);
-    qemu_opt_set(opts, "if", "none");
+    qemu_opt_set(opts, "file", filename, &error_abort);
+    qemu_opt_set(opts, "if", "none", &error_abort);
 
     /* create host drive */
     dinfo = drive_new(opts, 0);
diff --git a/hw/watchdog/watchdog.c b/hw/watchdog/watchdog.c
index c307f9b57e..54440c91c5 100644
--- a/hw/watchdog/watchdog.c
+++ b/hw/watchdog/watchdog.c
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ int select_watchdog(const char *p)
             /* add the device */
             opts = qemu_opts_create(qemu_find_opts("device"), NULL, 0,
                                     &error_abort);
-            qemu_opt_set(opts, "driver", p);
+            qemu_opt_set(opts, "driver", p, &error_abort);
             return 0;
         }
     }
diff --git a/include/qemu/option.h b/include/qemu/option.h
index 58c0157ed5..f88b545dfc 100644
--- a/include/qemu/option.h
+++ b/include/qemu/option.h
@@ -94,11 +94,12 @@ uint64_t qemu_opt_get_number_del(QemuOpts *opts, const char *name,
 uint64_t qemu_opt_get_size_del(QemuOpts *opts, const char *name,
                                uint64_t defval);
 int qemu_opt_unset(QemuOpts *opts, const char *name);
-int qemu_opt_set(QemuOpts *opts, const char *name, const char *value);
-void qemu_opt_set_err(QemuOpts *opts, const char *name, const char *value,
-                      Error **errp);
-int qemu_opt_set_bool(QemuOpts *opts, const char *name, bool val);
-int qemu_opt_set_number(QemuOpts *opts, const char *name, int64_t val);
+void qemu_opt_set(QemuOpts *opts, const char *name, const char *value,
+                  Error **errp);
+void qemu_opt_set_bool(QemuOpts *opts, const char *name, bool val,
+                       Error **errp);
+void qemu_opt_set_number(QemuOpts *opts, const char *name, int64_t val,
+                         Error **errp);
 typedef int (*qemu_opt_loopfunc)(const char *name, const char *value, void *opaque);
 int qemu_opt_foreach(QemuOpts *opts, qemu_opt_loopfunc func, void *opaque,
                      int abort_on_failure);
@@ -108,13 +109,14 @@ QemuOpts *qemu_opts_create(QemuOptsList *list, const char *id,
                            int fail_if_exists, Error **errp);
 void qemu_opts_reset(QemuOptsList *list);
 void qemu_opts_loc_restore(QemuOpts *opts);
-int qemu_opts_set(QemuOptsList *list, const char *id,
-                  const char *name, const char *value);
+void qemu_opts_set(QemuOptsList *list, const char *id,
+                   const char *name, const char *value, Error **errp);
 const char *qemu_opts_id(QemuOpts *opts);
 void qemu_opts_set_id(QemuOpts *opts, char *id);
 void qemu_opts_del(QemuOpts *opts);
 void qemu_opts_validate(QemuOpts *opts, const QemuOptDesc *desc, Error **errp);
-int qemu_opts_do_parse(QemuOpts *opts, const char *params, const char *firstname);
+void qemu_opts_do_parse(QemuOpts *opts, const char *params,
+                        const char *firstname, Error **errp);
 QemuOpts *qemu_opts_parse(QemuOptsList *list, const char *params, int permit_abbrev);
 void qemu_opts_set_defaults(QemuOptsList *list, const char *params,
                             int permit_abbrev);
diff --git a/net/net.c b/net/net.c
index 5146361f07..11fb769dff 100644
--- a/net/net.c
+++ b/net/net.c
@@ -970,7 +970,7 @@ void hmp_host_net_add(Monitor *mon, const QDict *qdict)
         return;
     }
 
-    qemu_opt_set(opts, "type", device);
+    qemu_opt_set(opts, "type", device, &error_abort);
 
     net_client_init(opts, 0, &local_err);
     if (local_err) {
@@ -1296,9 +1296,9 @@ int net_init_clients(void)
 
     if (default_net) {
         /* if no clients, we use a default config */
-        qemu_opts_set(net, NULL, "type", "nic");
+        qemu_opts_set(net, NULL, "type", "nic", &error_abort);
 #ifdef CONFIG_SLIRP
-        qemu_opts_set(net, NULL, "type", "user");
+        qemu_opts_set(net, NULL, "type", "user", &error_abort);
 #endif
     }
 
diff --git a/qdev-monitor.c b/qdev-monitor.c
index 0c25b823f2..5d30ac534c 100644
--- a/qdev-monitor.c
+++ b/qdev-monitor.c
@@ -772,8 +772,8 @@ int qemu_global_option(const char *str)
     }
 
     opts = qemu_opts_create(&qemu_global_opts, NULL, 0, &error_abort);
-    qemu_opt_set(opts, "driver", driver);
-    qemu_opt_set(opts, "property", property);
-    qemu_opt_set(opts, "value", str+offset+1);
+    qemu_opt_set(opts, "driver", driver, &error_abort);
+    qemu_opt_set(opts, "property", property, &error_abort);
+    qemu_opt_set(opts, "value", str + offset + 1, &error_abort);
     return 0;
 }
diff --git a/qemu-char.c b/qemu-char.c
index 8159462fc0..a405d76c31 100644
--- a/qemu-char.c
+++ b/qemu-char.c
@@ -3312,14 +3312,14 @@ QemuOpts *qemu_chr_parse_compat(const char *label, const char *filename)
 
     if (strstart(filename, "mon:", &p)) {
         filename = p;
-        qemu_opt_set(opts, "mux", "on");
+        qemu_opt_set(opts, "mux", "on", &error_abort);
         if (strcmp(filename, "stdio") == 0) {
             /* Monitor is muxed to stdio: do not exit on Ctrl+C by default
              * but pass it to the guest.  Handle this only for compat syntax,
              * for -chardev syntax we have special option for this.
              * This is what -nographic did, redirecting+muxing serial+monitor
              * to stdio causing Ctrl+C to be passed to guest. */
-            qemu_opt_set(opts, "signal", "off");
+            qemu_opt_set(opts, "signal", "off", &error_abort);
         }
     }
 
@@ -3329,20 +3329,20 @@ QemuOpts *qemu_chr_parse_compat(const char *label, const char *filename)
         strcmp(filename, "braille") == 0 ||
         strcmp(filename, "testdev") == 0 ||
         strcmp(filename, "stdio")   == 0) {
-        qemu_opt_set(opts, "backend", filename);
+        qemu_opt_set(opts, "backend", filename, &error_abort);
         return opts;
     }
     if (strstart(filename, "vc", &p)) {
-        qemu_opt_set(opts, "backend", "vc");
+        qemu_opt_set(opts, "backend", "vc", &error_abort);
         if (*p == ':') {
             if (sscanf(p+1, "%7[0-9]x%7[0-9]", width, height) == 2) {
                 /* pixels */
-                qemu_opt_set(opts, "width", width);
-                qemu_opt_set(opts, "height", height);
+                qemu_opt_set(opts, "width", width, &error_abort);
+                qemu_opt_set(opts, "height", height, &error_abort);
             } else if (sscanf(p+1, "%7[0-9]Cx%7[0-9]C", width, height) == 2) {
                 /* chars */
-                qemu_opt_set(opts, "cols", width);
-                qemu_opt_set(opts, "rows", height);
+                qemu_opt_set(opts, "cols", width, &error_abort);
+                qemu_opt_set(opts, "rows", height, &error_abort);
             } else {
                 goto fail;
             }
@@ -3350,22 +3350,22 @@ QemuOpts *qemu_chr_parse_compat(const char *label, const char *filename)
         return opts;
     }
     if (strcmp(filename, "con:") == 0) {
-        qemu_opt_set(opts, "backend", "console");
+        qemu_opt_set(opts, "backend", "console", &error_abort);
         return opts;
     }
     if (strstart(filename, "COM", NULL)) {
-        qemu_opt_set(opts, "backend", "serial");
-        qemu_opt_set(opts, "path", filename);
+        qemu_opt_set(opts, "backend", "serial", &error_abort);
+        qemu_opt_set(opts, "path", filename, &error_abort);
         return opts;
     }
     if (strstart(filename, "file:", &p)) {
-        qemu_opt_set(opts, "backend", "file");
-        qemu_opt_set(opts, "path", p);
+        qemu_opt_set(opts, "backend", "file", &error_abort);
+        qemu_opt_set(opts, "path", p, &error_abort);
         return opts;
     }
     if (strstart(filename, "pipe:", &p)) {
-        qemu_opt_set(opts, "backend", "pipe");
-        qemu_opt_set(opts, "path", p);
+        qemu_opt_set(opts, "backend", "pipe", &error_abort);
+        qemu_opt_set(opts, "path", p, &error_abort);
         return opts;
     }
     if (strstart(filename, "tcp:", &p) ||
@@ -3375,27 +3375,30 @@ QemuOpts *qemu_chr_parse_compat(const char *label, const char *filename)
             if (sscanf(p, ":%32[^,]%n", port, &pos) < 1)
                 goto fail;
         }
-        qemu_opt_set(opts, "backend", "socket");
-        qemu_opt_set(opts, "host", host);
-        qemu_opt_set(opts, "port", port);
+        qemu_opt_set(opts, "backend", "socket", &error_abort);
+        qemu_opt_set(opts, "host", host, &error_abort);
+        qemu_opt_set(opts, "port", port, &error_abort);
         if (p[pos] == ',') {
-            if (qemu_opts_do_parse(opts, p+pos+1, NULL) != 0)
+            qemu_opts_do_parse(opts, p+pos+1, NULL, &local_err);
+            if (local_err) {
+                error_report_err(local_err);
                 goto fail;
+            }
         }
         if (strstart(filename, "telnet:", &p))
-            qemu_opt_set(opts, "telnet", "on");
+            qemu_opt_set(opts, "telnet", "on", &error_abort);
         return opts;
     }
     if (strstart(filename, "udp:", &p)) {
-        qemu_opt_set(opts, "backend", "udp");
+        qemu_opt_set(opts, "backend", "udp", &error_abort);
         if (sscanf(p, "%64[^:]:%32[^@,]%n", host, port, &pos) < 2) {
             host[0] = 0;
             if (sscanf(p, ":%32[^@,]%n", port, &pos) < 1) {
                 goto fail;
             }
         }
-        qemu_opt_set(opts, "host", host);
-        qemu_opt_set(opts, "port", port);
+        qemu_opt_set(opts, "host", host, &error_abort);
+        qemu_opt_set(opts, "port", port, &error_abort);
         if (p[pos] == '@') {
             p += pos + 1;
             if (sscanf(p, "%64[^:]:%32[^,]%n", host, port, &pos) < 2) {
@@ -3404,26 +3407,29 @@ QemuOpts *qemu_chr_parse_compat(const char *label, const char *filename)
                     goto fail;
                 }
             }
-            qemu_opt_set(opts, "localaddr", host);
-            qemu_opt_set(opts, "localport", port);
+            qemu_opt_set(opts, "localaddr", host, &error_abort);
+            qemu_opt_set(opts, "localport", port, &error_abort);
         }
         return opts;
     }
     if (strstart(filename, "unix:", &p)) {
-        qemu_opt_set(opts, "backend", "socket");
-        if (qemu_opts_do_parse(opts, p, "path") != 0)
+        qemu_opt_set(opts, "backend", "socket", &error_abort);
+        qemu_opts_do_parse(opts, p, "path", &local_err);
+        if (local_err) {
+            error_report_err(local_err);
             goto fail;
+        }
         return opts;
     }
     if (strstart(filename, "/dev/parport", NULL) ||
         strstart(filename, "/dev/ppi", NULL)) {
-        qemu_opt_set(opts, "backend", "parport");
-        qemu_opt_set(opts, "path", filename);
+        qemu_opt_set(opts, "backend", "parport", &error_abort);
+        qemu_opt_set(opts, "path", filename, &error_abort);
         return opts;
     }
     if (strstart(filename, "/dev/", NULL)) {
-        qemu_opt_set(opts, "backend", "tty");
-        qemu_opt_set(opts, "path", filename);
+        qemu_opt_set(opts, "backend", "tty", &error_abort);
+        qemu_opt_set(opts, "path", filename, &error_abort);
         return opts;
     }
 
diff --git a/qemu-img.c b/qemu-img.c
index fcdfb6719e..7ac7f56c5d 100644
--- a/qemu-img.c
+++ b/qemu-img.c
@@ -332,17 +332,23 @@ static int add_old_style_options(const char *fmt, QemuOpts *opts,
                                  const char *base_filename,
                                  const char *base_fmt)
 {
+    Error *err = NULL;
+
     if (base_filename) {
-        if (qemu_opt_set(opts, BLOCK_OPT_BACKING_FILE, base_filename)) {
+        qemu_opt_set(opts, BLOCK_OPT_BACKING_FILE, base_filename, &err);
+        if (err) {
             error_report("Backing file not supported for file format '%s'",
                          fmt);
+            error_free(err);
             return -1;
         }
     }
     if (base_fmt) {
-        if (qemu_opt_set(opts, BLOCK_OPT_BACKING_FMT, base_fmt)) {
+        qemu_opt_set(opts, BLOCK_OPT_BACKING_FMT, base_fmt, &err);
+        if (err) {
             error_report("Backing file format not supported for file "
                          "format '%s'", fmt);
+            error_free(err);
             return -1;
         }
     }
@@ -1544,13 +1550,18 @@ static int img_convert(int argc, char **argv)
         create_opts = qemu_opts_append(create_opts, proto_drv->create_opts);
 
         opts = qemu_opts_create(create_opts, NULL, 0, &error_abort);
-        if (options && qemu_opts_do_parse(opts, options, NULL)) {
-            error_report("Invalid options for file format '%s'", out_fmt);
-            ret = -1;
-            goto out;
+        if (options) {
+            qemu_opts_do_parse(opts, options, NULL, &local_err);
+            if (local_err) {
+                error_report("Invalid options for file format '%s'", out_fmt);
+                error_free(local_err);
+                ret = -1;
+                goto out;
+            }
         }
 
-        qemu_opt_set_number(opts, BLOCK_OPT_SIZE, total_sectors * 512);
+        qemu_opt_set_number(opts, BLOCK_OPT_SIZE, total_sectors * 512,
+                            &error_abort);
         ret = add_old_style_options(out_fmt, opts, out_baseimg, NULL);
         if (ret < 0) {
             goto out;
@@ -2749,6 +2760,7 @@ out:
 
 static int img_resize(int argc, char **argv)
 {
+    Error *err = NULL;
     int c, ret, relative;
     const char *filename, *fmt, *size;
     int64_t n, total_size;
@@ -2820,8 +2832,9 @@ static int img_resize(int argc, char **argv)
 
     /* Parse size */
     param = qemu_opts_create(&resize_options, NULL, 0, &error_abort);
-    if (qemu_opt_set(param, BLOCK_OPT_SIZE, size)) {
-        /* Error message already printed when size parsing fails */
+    qemu_opt_set(param, BLOCK_OPT_SIZE, size, &err);
+    if (err) {
+        error_report_err(err);
         ret = -1;
         qemu_opts_del(param);
         goto out;
@@ -2878,6 +2891,7 @@ static void amend_status_cb(BlockDriverState *bs,
 
 static int img_amend(int argc, char **argv)
 {
+    Error *err = NULL;
     int c, ret = 0;
     char *options = NULL;
     QemuOptsList *create_opts = NULL;
@@ -2983,10 +2997,14 @@ static int img_amend(int argc, char **argv)
 
     create_opts = qemu_opts_append(create_opts, bs->drv->create_opts);
     opts = qemu_opts_create(create_opts, NULL, 0, &error_abort);
-    if (options && qemu_opts_do_parse(opts, options, NULL)) {
-        error_report("Invalid options for file format '%s'", fmt);
-        ret = -1;
-        goto out;
+    if (options) {
+        qemu_opts_do_parse(opts, options, NULL, &err);
+        if (err) {
+            error_report("Invalid options for file format '%s'", fmt);
+            error_free(err);
+            ret = -1;
+            goto out;
+        }
     }
 
     /* In case the driver does not call amend_status_cb() */
diff --git a/qtest.c b/qtest.c
index 2bca04ed4c..8d1e66caa3 100644
--- a/qtest.c
+++ b/qtest.c
@@ -520,16 +520,13 @@ static void qtest_event(void *opaque, int event)
     }
 }
 
-static void configure_qtest_icount(const char *options)
-{
-    QemuOpts *opts  = qemu_opts_parse(qemu_find_opts("icount"), options, 1);
-    configure_icount(opts, &error_abort);
-    qemu_opts_del(opts);
-}
-
 static int qtest_init_accel(MachineState *ms)
 {
-    configure_qtest_icount("0");
+    QemuOpts *opts = qemu_opts_create(qemu_find_opts("icount"), NULL, 0,
+                                      &error_abort);
+    qemu_opt_set(opts, "shift", "0", &error_abort);
+    configure_icount(opts, &error_abort);
+    qemu_opts_del(opts);
     return 0;
 }
 
diff --git a/tests/test-qemu-opts.c b/tests/test-qemu-opts.c
index ca08ac523d..da564923d0 100644
--- a/tests/test-qemu-opts.c
+++ b/tests/test-qemu-opts.c
@@ -148,13 +148,13 @@ static void test_qemu_opt_get(void)
     opt = qemu_opt_get(opts, "str2");
     g_assert(opt == NULL);
 
-    qemu_opt_set(opts, "str2", "value");
+    qemu_opt_set(opts, "str2", "value", &error_abort);
 
     /* now we have set str2, should know about it */
     opt = qemu_opt_get(opts, "str2");
     g_assert_cmpstr(opt, ==, "value");
 
-    qemu_opt_set(opts, "str2", "value2");
+    qemu_opt_set(opts, "str2", "value2", &error_abort);
 
     /* having reset the value, the returned should be the reset one */
     opt = qemu_opt_get(opts, "str2");
@@ -169,10 +169,10 @@ static void test_qemu_opt_get(void)
 
 static void test_qemu_opt_get_bool(void)
 {
+    Error *err = NULL;
     QemuOptsList *list;
     QemuOpts *opts;
     bool opt;
-    int ret;
 
     list = qemu_find_opts("opts_list_02");
     g_assert(list != NULL);
@@ -192,16 +192,16 @@ static void test_qemu_opt_get_bool(void)
     opt = qemu_opt_get_bool(opts, "bool1", false);
     g_assert(opt == false);
 
-    ret = qemu_opt_set_bool(opts, "bool1", true);
-    g_assert(ret == 0);
+    qemu_opt_set_bool(opts, "bool1", true, &err);
+    g_assert(!err);
 
     /* now we have set bool1, should know about it */
     opt = qemu_opt_get_bool(opts, "bool1", false);
     g_assert(opt == true);
 
     /* having reset the value, opt should be the reset one not defval */
-    ret = qemu_opt_set_bool(opts, "bool1", false);
-    g_assert(ret == 0);
+    qemu_opt_set_bool(opts, "bool1", false, &err);
+    g_assert(!err);
 
     opt = qemu_opt_get_bool(opts, "bool1", true);
     g_assert(opt == false);
@@ -215,10 +215,10 @@ static void test_qemu_opt_get_bool(void)
 
 static void test_qemu_opt_get_number(void)
 {
+    Error *err = NULL;
     QemuOptsList *list;
     QemuOpts *opts;
     uint64_t opt;
-    int ret;
 
     list = qemu_find_opts("opts_list_01");
     g_assert(list != NULL);
@@ -238,16 +238,16 @@ static void test_qemu_opt_get_number(void)
     opt = qemu_opt_get_number(opts, "number1", 5);
     g_assert(opt == 5);
 
-    ret = qemu_opt_set_number(opts, "number1", 10);
-    g_assert(ret == 0);
+    qemu_opt_set_number(opts, "number1", 10, &err);
+    g_assert(!err);
 
     /* now we have set number1, should know about it */
     opt = qemu_opt_get_number(opts, "number1", 5);
     g_assert(opt == 10);
 
     /* having reset it, the returned should be the reset one not defval */
-    ret = qemu_opt_set_number(opts, "number1", 15);
-    g_assert(ret == 0);
+    qemu_opt_set_number(opts, "number1", 15, &err);
+    g_assert(!err);
 
     opt = qemu_opt_get_number(opts, "number1", 5);
     g_assert(opt == 15);
@@ -331,7 +331,7 @@ static void test_qemu_opt_unset(void)
     g_assert_cmpstr(value, ==, "value");
 
     /* reset it to value2 */
-    qemu_opt_set(opts, "key", "value2");
+    qemu_opt_set(opts, "key", "value2", &error_abort);
 
     value = qemu_opt_get(opts, "key");
     g_assert_cmpstr(value, ==, "value2");
@@ -349,10 +349,10 @@ static void test_qemu_opt_unset(void)
 
 static void test_qemu_opts_reset(void)
 {
+    Error *err = NULL;
     QemuOptsList *list;
     QemuOpts *opts;
     uint64_t opt;
-    int ret;
 
     list = qemu_find_opts("opts_list_01");
     g_assert(list != NULL);
@@ -372,8 +372,8 @@ static void test_qemu_opts_reset(void)
     opt = qemu_opt_get_number(opts, "number1", 5);
     g_assert(opt == 5);
 
-    ret = qemu_opt_set_number(opts, "number1", 10);
-    g_assert(ret == 0);
+    qemu_opt_set_number(opts, "number1", 10, &err);
+    g_assert(!err);
 
     /* now we have set number1, should know about it */
     opt = qemu_opt_get_number(opts, "number1", 5);
@@ -388,9 +388,9 @@ static void test_qemu_opts_reset(void)
 
 static void test_qemu_opts_set(void)
 {
+    Error *err = NULL;
     QemuOptsList *list;
     QemuOpts *opts;
-    int ret;
     const char *opt;
 
     list = qemu_find_opts("opts_list_01");
@@ -403,8 +403,8 @@ static void test_qemu_opts_set(void)
     g_assert(opts == NULL);
 
     /* implicitly create opts and set str3 value */
-    ret = qemu_opts_set(list, NULL, "str3", "value");
-    g_assert(ret == 0);
+    qemu_opts_set(list, NULL, "str3", "value", &err);
+    g_assert(!err);
     g_assert(!QTAILQ_EMPTY(&list->head));
 
     /* get the just created opts */
diff --git a/util/qemu-config.c b/util/qemu-config.c
index b13efe2788..f3463df678 100644
--- a/util/qemu-config.c
+++ b/util/qemu-config.c
@@ -219,6 +219,7 @@ void qemu_add_opts(QemuOptsList *list)
 
 int qemu_set_option(const char *str)
 {
+    Error *local_err = NULL;
     char group[64], id[64], arg[64];
     QemuOptsList *list;
     QemuOpts *opts;
@@ -242,7 +243,9 @@ int qemu_set_option(const char *str)
         return -1;
     }
 
-    if (qemu_opt_set(opts, arg, str+offset+1) == -1) {
+    qemu_opt_set(opts, arg, str + offset + 1, &local_err);
+    if (local_err) {
+        error_report_err(local_err);
         return -1;
     }
     return 0;
@@ -335,7 +338,9 @@ int qemu_config_parse(FILE *fp, QemuOptsList **lists, const char *fname)
                 error_report("no group defined");
                 goto out;
             }
-            if (qemu_opt_set(opts, arg, value) != 0) {
+            qemu_opt_set(opts, arg, value, &local_err);
+            if (local_err) {
+                error_report_err(local_err);
                 goto out;
             }
             continue;
diff --git a/util/qemu-option.c b/util/qemu-option.c
index d3ab65d24f..fda4e5fcbf 100644
--- a/util/qemu-option.c
+++ b/util/qemu-option.c
@@ -548,27 +548,14 @@ static void opt_set(QemuOpts *opts, const char *name, const char *value,
     }
 }
 
-int qemu_opt_set(QemuOpts *opts, const char *name, const char *value)
-{
-    Error *local_err = NULL;
-
-    opt_set(opts, name, value, false, &local_err);
-    if (local_err) {
-        qerror_report_err(local_err);
-        error_free(local_err);
-        return -1;
-    }
-
-    return 0;
-}
-
-void qemu_opt_set_err(QemuOpts *opts, const char *name, const char *value,
-                      Error **errp)
+void qemu_opt_set(QemuOpts *opts, const char *name, const char *value,
+                  Error **errp)
 {
     opt_set(opts, name, value, false, errp);
 }
 
-int qemu_opt_set_bool(QemuOpts *opts, const char *name, bool val)
+void qemu_opt_set_bool(QemuOpts *opts, const char *name, bool val,
+                       Error **errp)
 {
     QemuOpt *opt;
     const QemuOptDesc *desc = opts->list->desc;
@@ -576,9 +563,9 @@ int qemu_opt_set_bool(QemuOpts *opts, const char *name, bool val)
     opt = g_malloc0(sizeof(*opt));
     opt->desc = find_desc_by_name(desc, name);
     if (!opt->desc && !opts_accepts_any(opts)) {
-        qerror_report(QERR_INVALID_PARAMETER, name);
+        error_set(errp, QERR_INVALID_PARAMETER, name);
         g_free(opt);
-        return -1;
+        return;
     }
 
     opt->name = g_strdup(name);
@@ -586,11 +573,10 @@ int qemu_opt_set_bool(QemuOpts *opts, const char *name, bool val)
     opt->value.boolean = !!val;
     opt->str = g_strdup(val ? "on" : "off");
     QTAILQ_INSERT_TAIL(&opts->head, opt, next);
-
-    return 0;
 }
 
-int qemu_opt_set_number(QemuOpts *opts, const char *name, int64_t val)
+void qemu_opt_set_number(QemuOpts *opts, const char *name, int64_t val,
+                         Error **errp)
 {
     QemuOpt *opt;
     const QemuOptDesc *desc = opts->list->desc;
@@ -598,9 +584,9 @@ int qemu_opt_set_number(QemuOpts *opts, const char *name, int64_t val)
     opt = g_malloc0(sizeof(*opt));
     opt->desc = find_desc_by_name(desc, name);
     if (!opt->desc && !opts_accepts_any(opts)) {
-        qerror_report(QERR_INVALID_PARAMETER, name);
+        error_set(errp, QERR_INVALID_PARAMETER, name);
         g_free(opt);
-        return -1;
+        return;
     }
 
     opt->name = g_strdup(name);
@@ -608,8 +594,6 @@ int qemu_opt_set_number(QemuOpts *opts, const char *name, int64_t val)
     opt->value.uint = val;
     opt->str = g_strdup_printf("%" PRId64, val);
     QTAILQ_INSERT_TAIL(&opts->head, opt, next);
-
-    return 0;
 }
 
 int qemu_opt_foreach(QemuOpts *opts, qemu_opt_loopfunc func, void *opaque,
@@ -692,19 +676,18 @@ void qemu_opts_loc_restore(QemuOpts *opts)
     loc_restore(&opts->loc);
 }
 
-int qemu_opts_set(QemuOptsList *list, const char *id,
-                  const char *name, const char *value)
+void qemu_opts_set(QemuOptsList *list, const char *id,
+                   const char *name, const char *value, Error **errp)
 {
     QemuOpts *opts;
     Error *local_err = NULL;
 
     opts = qemu_opts_create(list, id, 1, &local_err);
     if (local_err) {
-        qerror_report_err(local_err);
-        error_free(local_err);
-        return -1;
+        error_propagate(errp, local_err);
+        return;
     }
-    return qemu_opt_set(opts, name, value);
+    qemu_opt_set(opts, name, value, errp);
 }
 
 const char *qemu_opts_id(QemuOpts *opts)
@@ -767,8 +750,8 @@ void qemu_opts_print(QemuOpts *opts, const char *sep)
     }
 }
 
-static int opts_do_parse(QemuOpts *opts, const char *params,
-                         const char *firstname, bool prepend)
+static void opts_do_parse(QemuOpts *opts, const char *params,
+                          const char *firstname, bool prepend, Error **errp)
 {
     char option[128], value[1024];
     const char *p,*pe,*pc;
@@ -806,25 +789,30 @@ static int opts_do_parse(QemuOpts *opts, const char *params,
             /* store and parse */
             opt_set(opts, option, value, prepend, &local_err);
             if (local_err) {
-                qerror_report_err(local_err);
-                error_free(local_err);
-                return -1;
+                error_propagate(errp, local_err);
+                return;
             }
         }
         if (*p != ',') {
             break;
         }
     }
-    return 0;
 }
 
-int qemu_opts_do_parse(QemuOpts *opts, const char *params, const char *firstname)
+/**
+ * Store options parsed from @params into @opts.
+ * If @firstname is non-null, the first key=value in @params may omit
+ * key=, and is treated as if key was @firstname.
+ * On error, store an error object through @errp if non-null.
+ */
+void qemu_opts_do_parse(QemuOpts *opts, const char *params,
+                       const char *firstname, Error **errp)
 {
-    return opts_do_parse(opts, params, firstname, false);
+    opts_do_parse(opts, params, firstname, false, errp);
 }
 
 static QemuOpts *opts_parse(QemuOptsList *list, const char *params,
-                            int permit_abbrev, bool defaults)
+                            int permit_abbrev, bool defaults, Error **errp)
 {
     const char *firstname;
     char value[1024], *id = NULL;
@@ -853,14 +841,13 @@ static QemuOpts *opts_parse(QemuOptsList *list, const char *params,
     assert(!defaults || list->merge_lists);
     opts = qemu_opts_create(list, id, !defaults, &local_err);
     if (opts == NULL) {
-        if (local_err) {
-            qerror_report_err(local_err);
-            error_free(local_err);
-        }
+        error_propagate(errp, local_err);
         return NULL;
     }
 
-    if (opts_do_parse(opts, params, firstname, defaults) != 0) {
+    opts_do_parse(opts, params, firstname, defaults, &local_err);
+    if (local_err) {
+        error_propagate(errp, local_err);
         qemu_opts_del(opts);
         return NULL;
     }
@@ -868,10 +855,25 @@ static QemuOpts *opts_parse(QemuOptsList *list, const char *params,
     return opts;
 }
 
+/**
+ * Create a QemuOpts in @list and with options parsed from @params.
+ * If @permit_abbrev, the first key=value in @params may omit key=,
+ * and is treated as if key was @list->implied_opt_name.
+ * Report errors with qerror_report_err().
+ * Return the new QemuOpts on success, null pointer on error.
+ */
 QemuOpts *qemu_opts_parse(QemuOptsList *list, const char *params,
                           int permit_abbrev)
 {
-    return opts_parse(list, params, permit_abbrev, false);
+    Error *err = NULL;
+    QemuOpts *opts;
+
+    opts = opts_parse(list, params, permit_abbrev, false, &err);
+    if (!opts) {
+        qerror_report_err(err);
+        error_free(err);
+    }
+    return opts;
 }
 
 void qemu_opts_set_defaults(QemuOptsList *list, const char *params,
@@ -879,7 +881,7 @@ void qemu_opts_set_defaults(QemuOptsList *list, const char *params,
 {
     QemuOpts *opts;
 
-    opts = opts_parse(list, params, permit_abbrev, true);
+    opts = opts_parse(list, params, permit_abbrev, true, NULL);
     assert(opts);
 }
 
@@ -924,7 +926,7 @@ static void qemu_opts_from_qdict_1(const char *key, QObject *obj, void *opaque)
         return;
     }
 
-    qemu_opt_set_err(state->opts, key, value, state->errp);
+    qemu_opt_set(state->opts, key, value, state->errp);
 }
 
 /*
diff --git a/util/qemu-sockets.c b/util/qemu-sockets.c
index 61fc3c1364..87c9bc6c68 100644
--- a/util/qemu-sockets.c
+++ b/util/qemu-sockets.c
@@ -199,11 +199,13 @@ listen:
         freeaddrinfo(res);
         return -1;
     }
-    snprintf(uport, sizeof(uport), "%d", inet_getport(e) - port_offset);
-    qemu_opt_set(opts, "host", uaddr);
-    qemu_opt_set(opts, "port", uport);
-    qemu_opt_set(opts, "ipv6", (e->ai_family == PF_INET6) ? "on" : "off");
-    qemu_opt_set(opts, "ipv4", (e->ai_family != PF_INET6) ? "on" : "off");
+    qemu_opt_set(opts, "host", uaddr, &error_abort);
+    qemu_opt_set_number(opts, "port", inet_getport(e) - port_offset,
+                        &error_abort);
+    qemu_opt_set_bool(opts, "ipv6", e->ai_family == PF_INET6,
+                      &error_abort);
+    qemu_opt_set_bool(opts, "ipv4", e->ai_family != PF_INET6,
+                      &error_abort);
     freeaddrinfo(res);
     return slisten;
 }
@@ -580,16 +582,14 @@ static void inet_addr_to_opts(QemuOpts *opts, const InetSocketAddress *addr)
     bool ipv6 = addr->ipv6 || !addr->has_ipv6;
 
     if (!ipv4 || !ipv6) {
-        qemu_opt_set_bool(opts, "ipv4", ipv4);
-        qemu_opt_set_bool(opts, "ipv6", ipv6);
+        qemu_opt_set_bool(opts, "ipv4", ipv4, &error_abort);
+        qemu_opt_set_bool(opts, "ipv6", ipv6, &error_abort);
     }
     if (addr->has_to) {
-        char to[20];
-        snprintf(to, sizeof(to), "%d", addr->to);
-        qemu_opt_set(opts, "to", to);
+        qemu_opt_set_number(opts, "to", addr->to, &error_abort);
     }
-    qemu_opt_set(opts, "host", addr->host);
-    qemu_opt_set(opts, "port", addr->port);
+    qemu_opt_set(opts, "host", addr->host, &error_abort);
+    qemu_opt_set(opts, "port", addr->port, &error_abort);
 }
 
 int inet_listen(const char *str, char *ostr, int olen,
@@ -726,7 +726,7 @@ int unix_listen_opts(QemuOpts *opts, Error **errp)
             goto err;
         }
         close(fd);
-        qemu_opt_set(opts, "path", un.sun_path);
+        qemu_opt_set(opts, "path", un.sun_path, &error_abort);
     }
 
     unlink(un.sun_path);
@@ -838,11 +838,11 @@ int unix_listen(const char *str, char *ostr, int olen, Error **errp)
         if (len) {
             path = g_malloc(len+1);
             snprintf(path, len+1, "%.*s", len, str);
-            qemu_opt_set(opts, "path", path);
+            qemu_opt_set(opts, "path", path, &error_abort);
             g_free(path);
         }
     } else {
-        qemu_opt_set(opts, "path", str);
+        qemu_opt_set(opts, "path", str, &error_abort);
     }
 
     sock = unix_listen_opts(opts, errp);
@@ -859,7 +859,7 @@ int unix_connect(const char *path, Error **errp)
     int sock;
 
     opts = qemu_opts_create(&socket_optslist, NULL, 0, &error_abort);
-    qemu_opt_set(opts, "path", path);
+    qemu_opt_set(opts, "path", path, &error_abort);
     sock = unix_connect_opts(opts, errp, NULL, NULL);
     qemu_opts_del(opts);
     return sock;
@@ -876,7 +876,7 @@ int unix_nonblocking_connect(const char *path,
     g_assert(callback != NULL);
 
     opts = qemu_opts_create(&socket_optslist, NULL, 0, &error_abort);
-    qemu_opt_set(opts, "path", path);
+    qemu_opt_set(opts, "path", path, &error_abort);
     sock = unix_connect_opts(opts, errp, callback, opaque);
     qemu_opts_del(opts);
     return sock;
@@ -933,7 +933,7 @@ int socket_connect(SocketAddress *addr, Error **errp,
         break;
 
     case SOCKET_ADDRESS_KIND_UNIX:
-        qemu_opt_set(opts, "path", addr->q_unix->path);
+        qemu_opt_set(opts, "path", addr->q_unix->path, &error_abort);
         fd = unix_connect_opts(opts, errp, callback, opaque);
         break;
 
@@ -965,7 +965,7 @@ int socket_listen(SocketAddress *addr, Error **errp)
         break;
 
     case SOCKET_ADDRESS_KIND_UNIX:
-        qemu_opt_set(opts, "path", addr->q_unix->path);
+        qemu_opt_set(opts, "path", addr->q_unix->path, &error_abort);
         fd = unix_listen_opts(opts, errp);
         break;
 
@@ -990,8 +990,8 @@ int socket_dgram(SocketAddress *remote, SocketAddress *local, Error **errp)
     case SOCKET_ADDRESS_KIND_INET:
         inet_addr_to_opts(opts, remote->inet);
         if (local) {
-            qemu_opt_set(opts, "localaddr", local->inet->host);
-            qemu_opt_set(opts, "localport", local->inet->port);
+            qemu_opt_set(opts, "localaddr", local->inet->host, &error_abort);
+            qemu_opt_set(opts, "localport", local->inet->port, &error_abort);
         }
         fd = inet_dgram_opts(opts, errp);
         break;
diff --git a/vl.c b/vl.c
index 86bdce07e3..09693f5f0c 100644
--- a/vl.c
+++ b/vl.c
@@ -1093,7 +1093,7 @@ static int drive_init_func(QemuOpts *opts, void *opaque)
 static int drive_enable_snapshot(QemuOpts *opts, void *opaque)
 {
     if (qemu_opt_get(opts, "snapshot") == NULL) {
-        qemu_opt_set(opts, "snapshot", "on");
+        qemu_opt_set(opts, "snapshot", "on", &error_abort);
     }
     return 0;
 }
@@ -2071,7 +2071,7 @@ static int balloon_parse(const char *arg)
             opts = qemu_opts_create(qemu_find_opts("device"), NULL, 0,
                                     &error_abort);
         }
-        qemu_opt_set(opts, "driver", "virtio-balloon");
+        qemu_opt_set(opts, "driver", "virtio-balloon", &error_abort);
         return 0;
     }
 
@@ -2217,11 +2217,11 @@ static void monitor_parse(const char *optarg, const char *mode, bool pretty)
         error_report_err(local_err);
         exit(1);
     }
-    qemu_opt_set(opts, "mode", mode);
-    qemu_opt_set(opts, "chardev", label);
-    qemu_opt_set_bool(opts, "pretty", pretty);
+    qemu_opt_set(opts, "mode", mode, &error_abort);
+    qemu_opt_set(opts, "chardev", label, &error_abort);
+    qemu_opt_set_bool(opts, "pretty", pretty, &error_abort);
     if (def)
-        qemu_opt_set(opts, "default", "on");
+        qemu_opt_set(opts, "default", "on", &error_abort);
     monitor_device_index++;
 }
 
@@ -2333,13 +2333,13 @@ static int virtcon_parse(const char *devname)
 
     bus_opts = qemu_opts_create(device, NULL, 0, &error_abort);
     if (arch_type == QEMU_ARCH_S390X) {
-        qemu_opt_set(bus_opts, "driver", "virtio-serial-s390");
+        qemu_opt_set(bus_opts, "driver", "virtio-serial-s390", &error_abort);
     } else {
-        qemu_opt_set(bus_opts, "driver", "virtio-serial-pci");
+        qemu_opt_set(bus_opts, "driver", "virtio-serial-pci", &error_abort);
     }
 
     dev_opts = qemu_opts_create(device, NULL, 0, &error_abort);
-    qemu_opt_set(dev_opts, "driver", "virtconsole");
+    qemu_opt_set(dev_opts, "driver", "virtconsole", &error_abort);
 
     snprintf(label, sizeof(label), "virtcon%d", index);
     virtcon_hds[index] = qemu_chr_new(label, devname, NULL);
@@ -2348,7 +2348,7 @@ static int virtcon_parse(const char *devname)
                 " to character backend '%s'\n", devname);
         return -1;
     }
-    qemu_opt_set(dev_opts, "chardev", label);
+    qemu_opt_set(dev_opts, "chardev", label, &error_abort);
 
     index++;
     return 0;
@@ -2372,7 +2372,7 @@ static int sclp_parse(const char *devname)
     assert(arch_type == QEMU_ARCH_S390X);
 
     dev_opts = qemu_opts_create(device, NULL, 0, NULL);
-    qemu_opt_set(dev_opts, "driver", "sclpconsole");
+    qemu_opt_set(dev_opts, "driver", "sclpconsole", &error_abort);
 
     snprintf(label, sizeof(label), "sclpcon%d", index);
     sclp_hds[index] = qemu_chr_new(label, devname, NULL);
@@ -2381,7 +2381,7 @@ static int sclp_parse(const char *devname)
                 " to character backend '%s'\n", devname);
         return -1;
     }
-    qemu_opt_set(dev_opts, "chardev", label);
+    qemu_opt_set(dev_opts, "chardev", label, &error_abort);
 
     index++;
     return 0;
@@ -2399,8 +2399,8 @@ static int debugcon_parse(const char *devname)
         fprintf(stderr, "qemu: already have a debugcon device\n");
         exit(1);
     }
-    qemu_opt_set(opts, "driver", "isa-debugcon");
-    qemu_opt_set(opts, "chardev", "debugcon");
+    qemu_opt_set(opts, "driver", "isa-debugcon", &error_abort);
+    qemu_opt_set(opts, "chardev", "debugcon", &error_abort);
     return 0;
 }
 
@@ -2681,7 +2681,7 @@ static void set_memory_options(uint64_t *ram_slots, ram_addr_t *maxram_size)
     }
 
     /* store value for the future use */
-    qemu_opt_set_number(opts, "size", ram_size);
+    qemu_opt_set_number(opts, "size", ram_size, &error_abort);
     *maxram_size = ram_size;
 
     maxmem_str = qemu_opt_get(opts, "maxmem");
@@ -2960,21 +2960,24 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv, char **envp)
                         exit(1);
                     }
                     if (hda_opts != NULL) {
-                        char num[16];
-                        snprintf(num, sizeof(num), "%d", cyls);
-                        qemu_opt_set(hda_opts, "cyls", num);
-                        snprintf(num, sizeof(num), "%d", heads);
-                        qemu_opt_set(hda_opts, "heads", num);
-                        snprintf(num, sizeof(num), "%d", secs);
-                        qemu_opt_set(hda_opts, "secs", num);
+                        qemu_opt_set_number(hda_opts, "cyls", cyls,
+                                            &error_abort);
+                        qemu_opt_set_number(hda_opts, "heads", heads,
+                                            &error_abort);
+                        qemu_opt_set_number(hda_opts, "secs", secs,
+                                            &error_abort);
                         if (translation == BIOS_ATA_TRANSLATION_LARGE) {
-                            qemu_opt_set(hda_opts, "trans", "large");
+                            qemu_opt_set(hda_opts, "trans", "large",
+                                         &error_abort);
                         } else if (translation == BIOS_ATA_TRANSLATION_RECHS) {
-                            qemu_opt_set(hda_opts, "trans", "rechs");
+                            qemu_opt_set(hda_opts, "trans", "rechs",
+                                         &error_abort);
                         } else if (translation == BIOS_ATA_TRANSLATION_LBA) {
-                            qemu_opt_set(hda_opts, "trans", "lba");
+                            qemu_opt_set(hda_opts, "trans", "lba",
+                                         &error_abort);
                         } else if (translation == BIOS_ATA_TRANSLATION_NONE) {
-                            qemu_opt_set(hda_opts, "trans", "none");
+                            qemu_opt_set(hda_opts, "trans", "none",
+                                         &error_abort);
                         }
                     }
                 }
@@ -3012,16 +3015,20 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv, char **envp)
                 }
                 break;
             case QEMU_OPTION_kernel:
-                qemu_opts_set(qemu_find_opts("machine"), 0, "kernel", optarg);
+                qemu_opts_set(qemu_find_opts("machine"), 0, "kernel", optarg,
+                              &error_abort);
                 break;
             case QEMU_OPTION_initrd:
-                qemu_opts_set(qemu_find_opts("machine"), 0, "initrd", optarg);
+                qemu_opts_set(qemu_find_opts("machine"), 0, "initrd", optarg,
+                              &error_abort);
                 break;
             case QEMU_OPTION_append:
-                qemu_opts_set(qemu_find_opts("machine"), 0, "append", optarg);
+                qemu_opts_set(qemu_find_opts("machine"), 0, "append", optarg,
+                              &error_abort);
                 break;
             case QEMU_OPTION_dtb:
-                qemu_opts_set(qemu_find_opts("machine"), 0, "dtb", optarg);
+                qemu_opts_set(qemu_find_opts("machine"), 0, "dtb", optarg,
+                              &error_abort);
                 break;
             case QEMU_OPTION_cdrom:
                 drive_add(IF_DEFAULT, 2, optarg, CDROM_OPTS);
@@ -3125,7 +3132,8 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv, char **envp)
                 }
                 break;
             case QEMU_OPTION_bios:
-                qemu_opts_set(qemu_find_opts("machine"), 0, "firmware", optarg);
+                qemu_opts_set(qemu_find_opts("machine"), 0, "firmware", optarg,
+                              &error_abort);
                 break;
             case QEMU_OPTION_singlestep:
                 singlestep = 1;
@@ -3255,35 +3263,39 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv, char **envp)
                 writeout = qemu_opt_get(opts, "writeout");
                 if (writeout) {
 #ifdef CONFIG_SYNC_FILE_RANGE
-                    qemu_opt_set(fsdev, "writeout", writeout);
+                    qemu_opt_set(fsdev, "writeout", writeout, &error_abort);
 #else
                     fprintf(stderr, "writeout=immediate not supported on "
                             "this platform\n");
                     exit(1);
 #endif
                 }
-                qemu_opt_set(fsdev, "fsdriver", qemu_opt_get(opts, "fsdriver"));
-                qemu_opt_set(fsdev, "path", qemu_opt_get(opts, "path"));
+                qemu_opt_set(fsdev, "fsdriver",
+                             qemu_opt_get(opts, "fsdriver"), &error_abort);
+                qemu_opt_set(fsdev, "path", qemu_opt_get(opts, "path"),
+                             &error_abort);
                 qemu_opt_set(fsdev, "security_model",
-                             qemu_opt_get(opts, "security_model"));
+                             qemu_opt_get(opts, "security_model"),
+                             &error_abort);
                 socket = qemu_opt_get(opts, "socket");
                 if (socket) {
-                    qemu_opt_set(fsdev, "socket", socket);
+                    qemu_opt_set(fsdev, "socket", socket, &error_abort);
                 }
                 sock_fd = qemu_opt_get(opts, "sock_fd");
                 if (sock_fd) {
-                    qemu_opt_set(fsdev, "sock_fd", sock_fd);
+                    qemu_opt_set(fsdev, "sock_fd", sock_fd, &error_abort);
                 }
 
                 qemu_opt_set_bool(fsdev, "readonly",
-                                qemu_opt_get_bool(opts, "readonly", 0));
+                                  qemu_opt_get_bool(opts, "readonly", 0),
+                                  &error_abort);
                 device = qemu_opts_create(qemu_find_opts("device"), NULL, 0,
                                           &error_abort);
-                qemu_opt_set(device, "driver", "virtio-9p-pci");
+                qemu_opt_set(device, "driver", "virtio-9p-pci", &error_abort);
                 qemu_opt_set(device, "fsdev",
-                             qemu_opt_get(opts, "mount_tag"));
+                             qemu_opt_get(opts, "mount_tag"), &error_abort);
                 qemu_opt_set(device, "mount_tag",
-                             qemu_opt_get(opts, "mount_tag"));
+                             qemu_opt_get(opts, "mount_tag"), &error_abort);
                 break;
             }
             case QEMU_OPTION_virtfs_synth: {
@@ -3296,13 +3308,13 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv, char **envp)
                     fprintf(stderr, "duplicate option: %s\n", "virtfs_synth");
                     exit(1);
                 }
-                qemu_opt_set(fsdev, "fsdriver", "synth");
+                qemu_opt_set(fsdev, "fsdriver", "synth", &error_abort);
 
                 device = qemu_opts_create(qemu_find_opts("device"), NULL, 0,
                                           &error_abort);
-                qemu_opt_set(device, "driver", "virtio-9p-pci");
-                qemu_opt_set(device, "fsdev", "v_synth");
-                qemu_opt_set(device, "mount_tag", "v_synth");
+                qemu_opt_set(device, "driver", "virtio-9p-pci", &error_abort);
+                qemu_opt_set(device, "fsdev", "v_synth", &error_abort);
+                qemu_opt_set(device, "mount_tag", "v_synth", &error_abort);
                 break;
             }
             case QEMU_OPTION_serial: