diff --git a/arch_init.c b/arch_init.c
index 89c8fa46bb6087b953600a54c89ee9b9f36891c6..8414726e30870ee355d019a95e16051e1d51abaf 100644
--- a/arch_init.c
+++ b/arch_init.c
@@ -1093,8 +1093,7 @@ 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 be3176fcb4d25bd4ebf36e6b288cfde4ce3706c0..6a4a3bd0953247e0aff480bc01e889274c8cd21c 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 7d34960b960244d6d8311ab22ce4c4de64f7fcfa..5437955fd88bca26b5db5037b72f084122c92d22 100644
--- a/blockdev.c
+++ b/blockdev.c
@@ -728,8 +728,7 @@ 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;
         }
     }
@@ -767,8 +766,7 @@ 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;
     }
 
@@ -983,8 +981,7 @@ 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 {
@@ -1978,8 +1975,7 @@ int do_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 97dafca49a0327438248934c0410cf6259b5d35e..c55fab81317c554db77901a342bb0bca195a52e1 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 f67570a7ee7f84f9cb56e213750272aeac944a51..a92cdc3322c60b805b90a696c2a7481158affa3e 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 8c48b68a347eaae0986f81ab43f3823dcbea66f3..949ae1ed394ac36db9f19a96ffdaaf0bacabcb35 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 50cb93d8ac8fbfb1cd85ded67164c563c42bc84a..ef2788d3ebb4df1b66e960035190f6f772b0ae63 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 b1dae77604b00f3e4d77f609322cbd638f0d8072..624fdb09bb757039714280a22e7a541b139899f3 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 84415c8b0a321c281be8cab7aa4901ade3696910..5933454cfd78f40495011075c0e078499befcb8f 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 06e6e24da10c0d22e9f0c216690205938c4b2e17..5c3752142231b1b0dd0535aca7b5bc5ac93f571d 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 1a8a176dccf781c8fae879f94ea6ffbdb0f38dfc..cb71772f9567858ce13bcb9685774668089d7cbe 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 04918979d82389c8558f32518756c1bd69c6e1a2..55011cfd267e001d520471332ccf1906a736bf9b 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 bb206da05fa34622578cf7394faeba6acec37046..29ce2c4eb8bbfe5021b7208f3866356f52dd88a6 100644
--- a/hw/i386/kvm/pci-assign.c
+++ b/hw/i386/kvm/pci-assign.c
@@ -953,8 +953,7 @@ 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 +1009,7 @@ 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 +1156,7 @@ 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 c7af6aae01843a594b4f6230e77dbccc496dac16..05008cbf6a89198375a76a907a9d7fbcb8b4f976 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 12d213769d9894d2237cea6ed018dfee0995e95e..f2e9ab62cef671a74cd8791bad88959dc5ce7f9f 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 1ebb58d36d22b70d04f9c2de8af3c6fb0c1d1dbc..b4103fa009bcc31e8ea7fdddc8f133afc212b90d 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 0c09c72ac5faa47441741258f6303493cd847728..d07db2538670492157e1adfd8c059ed9603269de 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 d50893002d4874ae2783ab5be0dc6c3b56598211..31b222d8c075fd1221ea3cf04067d70b2cf20355 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/usb/dev-network.c b/hw/usb/dev-network.c
index 5b95d5c382a1be0c0bb22d7ae65175aa6c9a3a2d..c49fde811351eb97065820c3b15fc017a1b6620f 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 cff4f7cd51597185a323d2b1e825e04cebf8e218..38f7c7268b18d0edbad415ed23749d44da29992d 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 962d3f5118fd8d99c3617c925787fd71c3dc9086..2416de83e9e1bd079212772acec11a3976282029 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/qemu-char.c b/qemu-char.c
index 98d434237f33a4fac8d306e67e9aaf76739139c0..f901ed1583642960dc4bdc8f49fcd26ec7a7af01 100644
--- a/qemu-char.c
+++ b/qemu-char.c
@@ -3753,8 +3753,7 @@ 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 e148af8a3e64cc49e24db713a93166fd4a9a30a8..97d04bd8d984569d37a3dc652129025739360221 100644
--- a/qemu-img.c
+++ b/qemu-img.c
@@ -2004,8 +2004,7 @@ 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;
         }
@@ -3053,8 +3052,7 @@ 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 91a445a106bd19ae4a542d6ccf38132de5760c68..d7a32e432292056c223d872c805964c2672d04eb 100644
--- a/qemu-io.c
+++ b/qemu-io.c
@@ -464,8 +464,7 @@ 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 4d8df0838595411d171e1d5eb178a383ac88bcc8..2ba2d4c5bd526da3a88194cc036beb5f53469e27 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 9c68fa48105213611fa55c689bdf3214b3843759..970377e960885a0b4e2e4aefba9f2ef4e81be567 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 3a9b32ef7d2fedcef9820d87906ac94b0f5d515c..d543e2b53704ae8db7e2a9eac9a878ef99818cae 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 aa7626c1bfea56a60fd598cd26688558c290c80d..a9520970964bb1672c08ff7f7fddfa7281b0d907 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/util/error.c b/util/error.c
index 1ff6ae538b328edf1196100afa9dc1825eeaf6de..14f43518792e3debe3381bf73ab035663fded4e2 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();
     }
 
@@ -169,7 +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 ba375c014892ca6e216857e1dfaadd54c60898f3..b13efe2788339c9c9a3d0f377cfe03f62e953d00 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 8c8f14287e17e04c46361fbc1612da9eb0ea0eb4..1e9aff66591efc44fd22735226d739caa0e59fa7 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);
@@ -3766,7 +3764,7 @@ 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 +4031,7 @@ 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 +4053,7 @@ 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 +4063,7 @@ 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);