diff --git a/qerror.c b/qerror.c
index a12e7f7b1b..0c0a5100aa 100644
--- a/qerror.c
+++ b/qerror.c
@@ -44,6 +44,10 @@ const QErrorStringTable qerror_table[] = {
         .error_fmt = QERR_DEVICE_NOT_FOUND,
         .desc      = "The %(device) device has not been found",
     },
+    {
+        .error_fmt = QERR_DEVICE_NOT_ACTIVE,
+        .desc      = "The %(device) device has not been activated by the guest",
+    },
     {}
 };
 
diff --git a/qerror.h b/qerror.h
index 413acc6786..c1be8b96e4 100644
--- a/qerror.h
+++ b/qerror.h
@@ -41,4 +41,7 @@ QError *qobject_to_qerror(const QObject *obj);
 #define QERR_DEVICE_NOT_FOUND \
         "{ 'class': 'DeviceNotFound', 'data': { 'device': %s } }"
 
+#define QERR_DEVICE_NOT_ACTIVE \
+        "{ 'class': 'DeviceNotActive', 'data': { 'device': %s } }"
+
 #endif /* QERROR_H */