diff --git a/vl.c b/vl.c
index a455947b4f..e7c2c628de 100644
--- a/vl.c
+++ b/vl.c
@@ -2922,6 +2922,7 @@ static int global_init_func(void *opaque, QemuOpts *opts, Error **errp)
     g->property = qemu_opt_get(opts, "property");
     g->value    = qemu_opt_get(opts, "value");
     g->user_provided = true;
+    g->errp = &error_fatal;
     qdev_prop_register_global(g);
     return 0;
 }