diff --git a/backends/vhost-user.c b/backends/vhost-user.c
index 94274a619d..42845329e7 100644
--- a/backends/vhost-user.c
+++ b/backends/vhost-user.c
@@ -97,30 +97,28 @@ err_host_notifiers:
     vhost_dev_disable_notifiers(&b->dev, b->vdev);
 }
 
-void
+int
 vhost_user_backend_stop(VhostUserBackend *b)
 {
     BusState *qbus = BUS(qdev_get_parent_bus(DEVICE(b->vdev)));
     VirtioBusClass *k = VIRTIO_BUS_GET_CLASS(qbus);
-    int ret = 0;
+    int ret;
 
     if (!b->started) {
-        return;
+        return 0;
     }
 
-    vhost_dev_stop(&b->dev, b->vdev, true);
+    ret = vhost_dev_stop(&b->dev, b->vdev, true);
 
-    if (k->set_guest_notifiers) {
-        ret = k->set_guest_notifiers(qbus->parent,
-                                     b->dev.nvqs, false);
-        if (ret < 0) {
-            error_report("vhost guest notifier cleanup failed: %d", ret);
-        }
+    if (k->set_guest_notifiers &&
+        k->set_guest_notifiers(qbus->parent, b->dev.nvqs, false) < 0) {
+        error_report("vhost guest notifier cleanup failed: %d", ret);
+        return -1;
     }
-    assert(ret >= 0);
 
     vhost_dev_disable_notifiers(&b->dev, b->vdev);
     b->started = false;
+    return ret;
 }
 
 static void set_chardev(Object *obj, const char *value, Error **errp)
diff --git a/hw/block/vhost-user-blk.c b/hw/block/vhost-user-blk.c
index 4bb5ed299e..0eebbcd80d 100644
--- a/hw/block/vhost-user-blk.c
+++ b/hw/block/vhost-user-blk.c
@@ -204,7 +204,7 @@ err_host_notifiers:
     return ret;
 }
 
-static void vhost_user_blk_stop(VirtIODevice *vdev)
+static int vhost_user_blk_stop(VirtIODevice *vdev)
 {
     VHostUserBlk *s = VHOST_USER_BLK(vdev);
     BusState *qbus = BUS(qdev_get_parent_bus(DEVICE(vdev)));
@@ -212,26 +212,26 @@ static void vhost_user_blk_stop(VirtIODevice *vdev)
     int ret;
 
     if (!s->started_vu) {
-        return;
+        return 0;
     }
     s->started_vu = false;
 
     if (!k->set_guest_notifiers) {
-        return;
+        return 0;
     }
 
-    vhost_dev_stop(&s->dev, vdev, true);
+    ret = vhost_dev_stop(&s->dev, vdev, true);
 
-    ret = k->set_guest_notifiers(qbus->parent, s->dev.nvqs, false);
-    if (ret < 0) {
+    if (k->set_guest_notifiers(qbus->parent, s->dev.nvqs, false) < 0) {
         error_report("vhost guest notifier cleanup failed: %d", ret);
-        return;
+        return -1;
     }
 
     vhost_dev_disable_notifiers(&s->dev, vdev);
+    return ret;
 }
 
-static void vhost_user_blk_set_status(VirtIODevice *vdev, uint8_t status)
+static int vhost_user_blk_set_status(VirtIODevice *vdev, uint8_t status)
 {
     VHostUserBlk *s = VHOST_USER_BLK(vdev);
     bool should_start = virtio_device_should_start(vdev, status);
@@ -239,11 +239,11 @@ static void vhost_user_blk_set_status(VirtIODevice *vdev, uint8_t status)
     int ret;
 
     if (!s->connected) {
-        return;
+        return -1;
     }
 
     if (vhost_dev_is_started(&s->dev) == should_start) {
-        return;
+        return 0;
     }
 
     if (should_start) {
@@ -253,9 +253,12 @@ static void vhost_user_blk_set_status(VirtIODevice *vdev, uint8_t status)
             qemu_chr_fe_disconnect(&s->chardev);
         }
     } else {
-        vhost_user_blk_stop(vdev);
+        ret = vhost_user_blk_stop(vdev);
+        if (ret < 0) {
+            return ret;
+        }
     }
-
+    return 0;
 }
 
 static uint64_t vhost_user_blk_get_features(VirtIODevice *vdev,
diff --git a/hw/block/virtio-blk.c b/hw/block/virtio-blk.c
index ea948d18fd..9bab2716c1 100644
--- a/hw/block/virtio-blk.c
+++ b/hw/block/virtio-blk.c
@@ -1270,7 +1270,7 @@ static uint64_t virtio_blk_get_features(VirtIODevice *vdev, uint64_t features,
     return features;
 }
 
-static void virtio_blk_set_status(VirtIODevice *vdev, uint8_t status)
+static int virtio_blk_set_status(VirtIODevice *vdev, uint8_t status)
 {
     VirtIOBlock *s = VIRTIO_BLK(vdev);
 
@@ -1279,7 +1279,7 @@ static void virtio_blk_set_status(VirtIODevice *vdev, uint8_t status)
     }
 
     if (!(status & VIRTIO_CONFIG_S_DRIVER_OK)) {
-        return;
+        return 0;
     }
 
     /* A guest that supports VIRTIO_BLK_F_CONFIG_WCE must be able to send
@@ -1302,6 +1302,7 @@ static void virtio_blk_set_status(VirtIODevice *vdev, uint8_t status)
                                    virtio_vdev_has_feature(vdev,
                                                            VIRTIO_BLK_F_WCE));
     }
+    return 0;
 }
 
 static void virtio_blk_save_device(VirtIODevice *vdev, QEMUFile *f)
diff --git a/hw/char/virtio-serial-bus.c b/hw/char/virtio-serial-bus.c
index eb79f5258b..673c50f0be 100644
--- a/hw/char/virtio-serial-bus.c
+++ b/hw/char/virtio-serial-bus.c
@@ -622,7 +622,7 @@ static void guest_reset(VirtIOSerial *vser)
     }
 }
 
-static void set_status(VirtIODevice *vdev, uint8_t status)
+static int set_status(VirtIODevice *vdev, uint8_t status)
 {
     VirtIOSerial *vser;
     VirtIOSerialPort *port;
@@ -650,6 +650,7 @@ static void set_status(VirtIODevice *vdev, uint8_t status)
             vsc->enable_backend(port, vdev->vm_running);
         }
     }
+    return 0;
 }
 
 static void vser_reset(VirtIODevice *vdev)
diff --git a/hw/display/vhost-user-gpu.c b/hw/display/vhost-user-gpu.c
index 43d4c08a2e..9fc6bbcd2c 100644
--- a/hw/display/vhost-user-gpu.c
+++ b/hw/display/vhost-user-gpu.c
@@ -516,7 +516,7 @@ vhost_user_gpu_set_config(VirtIODevice *vdev,
     }
 }
 
-static void
+static int
 vhost_user_gpu_set_status(VirtIODevice *vdev, uint8_t val)
 {
     VhostUserGPU *g = VHOST_USER_GPU(vdev);
@@ -525,18 +525,24 @@ vhost_user_gpu_set_status(VirtIODevice *vdev, uint8_t val)
     if (val & VIRTIO_CONFIG_S_DRIVER_OK && vdev->vm_running) {
         if (!vhost_user_gpu_do_set_socket(g, &err)) {
             error_report_err(err);
-            return;
+            return 0;
         }
         vhost_user_backend_start(g->vhost);
     } else {
+        int ret;
+
         /* unblock any wait and stop processing */
         if (g->vhost_gpu_fd != -1) {
             vhost_user_gpu_update_blocked(g, true);
             qemu_chr_fe_deinit(&g->vhost_chr, true);
             g->vhost_gpu_fd = -1;
         }
-        vhost_user_backend_stop(g->vhost);
+        ret = vhost_user_backend_stop(g->vhost);
+        if (ret < 0) {
+            return ret;
+        }
     }
+    return 0;
 }
 
 static bool
diff --git a/hw/input/virtio-input.c b/hw/input/virtio-input.c
index 1818cbddc7..a3f554f211 100644
--- a/hw/input/virtio-input.c
+++ b/hw/input/virtio-input.c
@@ -189,7 +189,7 @@ static uint64_t virtio_input_get_features(VirtIODevice *vdev, uint64_t f,
     return f;
 }
 
-static void virtio_input_set_status(VirtIODevice *vdev, uint8_t val)
+static int virtio_input_set_status(VirtIODevice *vdev, uint8_t val)
 {
     VirtIOInputClass *vic = VIRTIO_INPUT_GET_CLASS(vdev);
     VirtIOInput *vinput = VIRTIO_INPUT(vdev);
@@ -202,6 +202,7 @@ static void virtio_input_set_status(VirtIODevice *vdev, uint8_t val)
             }
         }
     }
+    return 0;
 }
 
 static void virtio_input_reset(VirtIODevice *vdev)
diff --git a/hw/net/virtio-net.c b/hw/net/virtio-net.c
index 2de037c273..221252e00a 100644
--- a/hw/net/virtio-net.c
+++ b/hw/net/virtio-net.c
@@ -382,7 +382,7 @@ static void virtio_net_drop_tx_queue_data(VirtIODevice *vdev, VirtQueue *vq)
     }
 }
 
-static void virtio_net_set_status(struct VirtIODevice *vdev, uint8_t status)
+static int virtio_net_set_status(struct VirtIODevice *vdev, uint8_t status)
 {
     VirtIONet *n = VIRTIO_NET(vdev);
     VirtIONetQueue *q;
@@ -437,6 +437,7 @@ static void virtio_net_set_status(struct VirtIODevice *vdev, uint8_t status)
             }
         }
     }
+    return 0;
 }
 
 static void virtio_net_set_link_status(NetClientState *nc)
diff --git a/hw/scsi/vhost-scsi-common.c b/hw/scsi/vhost-scsi-common.c
index 4c8637045d..43525ba46d 100644
--- a/hw/scsi/vhost-scsi-common.c
+++ b/hw/scsi/vhost-scsi-common.c
@@ -101,24 +101,25 @@ err_host_notifiers:
     return ret;
 }
 
-void vhost_scsi_common_stop(VHostSCSICommon *vsc)
+int vhost_scsi_common_stop(VHostSCSICommon *vsc)
 {
     VirtIODevice *vdev = VIRTIO_DEVICE(vsc);
     BusState *qbus = BUS(qdev_get_parent_bus(DEVICE(vdev)));
     VirtioBusClass *k = VIRTIO_BUS_GET_CLASS(qbus);
     int ret = 0;
 
-    vhost_dev_stop(&vsc->dev, vdev, true);
+    ret = vhost_dev_stop(&vsc->dev, vdev, true);
 
     if (k->set_guest_notifiers) {
-        ret = k->set_guest_notifiers(qbus->parent, vsc->dev.nvqs, false);
-        if (ret < 0) {
-                error_report("vhost guest notifier cleanup failed: %d", ret);
+        int r = k->set_guest_notifiers(qbus->parent, vsc->dev.nvqs, false);
+        if (r < 0) {
+            error_report("vhost guest notifier cleanup failed: %d", ret);
+            return r;
         }
     }
-    assert(ret >= 0);
 
     vhost_dev_disable_notifiers(&vsc->dev, vdev);
+    return ret;
 }
 
 uint64_t vhost_scsi_common_get_features(VirtIODevice *vdev, uint64_t features,
diff --git a/hw/scsi/vhost-scsi.c b/hw/scsi/vhost-scsi.c
index 10fde8eee0..dd4250ebe8 100644
--- a/hw/scsi/vhost-scsi.c
+++ b/hw/scsi/vhost-scsi.c
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ static void vhost_scsi_stop(VHostSCSI *s)
     vhost_scsi_common_stop(vsc);
 }
 
-static void vhost_scsi_set_status(VirtIODevice *vdev, uint8_t val)
+static int vhost_scsi_set_status(VirtIODevice *vdev, uint8_t val)
 {
     VHostSCSI *s = VHOST_SCSI(vdev);
     VHostSCSICommon *vsc = VHOST_SCSI_COMMON(s);
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ static void vhost_scsi_set_status(VirtIODevice *vdev, uint8_t val)
     }
 
     if (vhost_dev_is_started(&vsc->dev) == start) {
-        return;
+        return 0;
     }
 
     if (start) {
@@ -139,6 +139,7 @@ static void vhost_scsi_set_status(VirtIODevice *vdev, uint8_t val)
     } else {
         vhost_scsi_stop(s);
     }
+    return 0;
 }
 
 static void vhost_dummy_handle_output(VirtIODevice *vdev, VirtQueue *vq)
diff --git a/hw/scsi/vhost-user-scsi.c b/hw/scsi/vhost-user-scsi.c
index 8298e8cc6d..25f2d894e7 100644
--- a/hw/scsi/vhost-user-scsi.c
+++ b/hw/scsi/vhost-user-scsi.c
@@ -52,19 +52,19 @@ static int vhost_user_scsi_start(VHostUserSCSI *s, Error **errp)
     return ret;
 }
 
-static void vhost_user_scsi_stop(VHostUserSCSI *s)
+static int vhost_user_scsi_stop(VHostUserSCSI *s)
 {
     VHostSCSICommon *vsc = VHOST_SCSI_COMMON(s);
 
     if (!s->started_vu) {
-        return;
+        return 0;
     }
     s->started_vu = false;
 
-    vhost_scsi_common_stop(vsc);
+    return vhost_scsi_common_stop(vsc);
 }
 
-static void vhost_user_scsi_set_status(VirtIODevice *vdev, uint8_t status)
+static int vhost_user_scsi_set_status(VirtIODevice *vdev, uint8_t status)
 {
     VHostUserSCSI *s = (VHostUserSCSI *)vdev;
     DeviceState *dev = DEVICE(vdev);
@@ -75,11 +75,11 @@ static void vhost_user_scsi_set_status(VirtIODevice *vdev, uint8_t status)
     int ret;
 
     if (!s->connected) {
-        return;
+        return -1;
     }
 
     if (vhost_dev_is_started(&vsc->dev) == should_start) {
-        return;
+        return 0;
     }
 
     if (should_start) {
@@ -91,8 +91,12 @@ static void vhost_user_scsi_set_status(VirtIODevice *vdev, uint8_t status)
             qemu_chr_fe_disconnect(&vs->conf.chardev);
         }
     } else {
-        vhost_user_scsi_stop(s);
+        ret = vhost_user_scsi_stop(s);
+        if (ret) {
+            return ret;
+        }
     }
+    return 0;
 }
 
 static void vhost_user_scsi_handle_output(VirtIODevice *vdev, VirtQueue *vq)
diff --git a/hw/virtio/vdpa-dev.c b/hw/virtio/vdpa-dev.c
index dd8837ce4e..d1da40afc8 100644
--- a/hw/virtio/vdpa-dev.c
+++ b/hw/virtio/vdpa-dev.c
@@ -312,7 +312,7 @@ static void vhost_vdpa_device_stop(VirtIODevice *vdev)
     vhost_dev_disable_notifiers(&s->dev, vdev);
 }
 
-static void vhost_vdpa_device_set_status(VirtIODevice *vdev, uint8_t status)
+static int vhost_vdpa_device_set_status(VirtIODevice *vdev, uint8_t status)
 {
     VhostVdpaDevice *s = VHOST_VDPA_DEVICE(vdev);
     bool should_start = virtio_device_started(vdev, status);
@@ -324,7 +324,7 @@ static void vhost_vdpa_device_set_status(VirtIODevice *vdev, uint8_t status)
     }
 
     if (s->started == should_start) {
-        return;
+        return 0;
     }
 
     if (should_start) {
@@ -335,6 +335,7 @@ static void vhost_vdpa_device_set_status(VirtIODevice *vdev, uint8_t status)
     } else {
         vhost_vdpa_device_stop(vdev);
     }
+    return 0;
 }
 
 static const Property vhost_vdpa_device_properties[] = {
diff --git a/hw/virtio/vhost-user-base.c b/hw/virtio/vhost-user-base.c
index 77143320a2..ff67a020b4 100644
--- a/hw/virtio/vhost-user-base.c
+++ b/hw/virtio/vhost-user-base.c
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ err_host_notifiers:
     vhost_dev_disable_notifiers(&vub->vhost_dev, vdev);
 }
 
-static void vub_stop(VirtIODevice *vdev)
+static int vub_stop(VirtIODevice *vdev)
 {
     VHostUserBase *vub = VHOST_USER_BASE(vdev);
     BusState *qbus = BUS(qdev_get_parent_bus(DEVICE(vdev)));
@@ -74,34 +74,39 @@ static void vub_stop(VirtIODevice *vdev)
     int ret;
 
     if (!k->set_guest_notifiers) {
-        return;
+        return 0;
     }
 
-    vhost_dev_stop(&vub->vhost_dev, vdev, true);
+    ret = vhost_dev_stop(&vub->vhost_dev, vdev, true);
 
-    ret = k->set_guest_notifiers(qbus->parent, vub->vhost_dev.nvqs, false);
-    if (ret < 0) {
+    if (k->set_guest_notifiers(qbus->parent, vub->vhost_dev.nvqs, false) < 0) {
         error_report("vhost guest notifier cleanup failed: %d", ret);
-        return;
+        return -1;
     }
 
     vhost_dev_disable_notifiers(&vub->vhost_dev, vdev);
+    return ret;
 }
 
-static void vub_set_status(VirtIODevice *vdev, uint8_t status)
+static int vub_set_status(VirtIODevice *vdev, uint8_t status)
 {
     VHostUserBase *vub = VHOST_USER_BASE(vdev);
     bool should_start = virtio_device_should_start(vdev, status);
 
     if (vhost_dev_is_started(&vub->vhost_dev) == should_start) {
-        return;
+        return 0;
     }
 
     if (should_start) {
         vub_start(vdev);
     } else {
-        vub_stop(vdev);
+        int ret;
+        ret = vub_stop(vdev);
+        if (ret < 0) {
+            return ret;
+        }
     }
+    return 0;
 }
 
 /*
diff --git a/hw/virtio/vhost-user-fs.c b/hw/virtio/vhost-user-fs.c
index f6d1fc8804..e77c69eb12 100644
--- a/hw/virtio/vhost-user-fs.c
+++ b/hw/virtio/vhost-user-fs.c
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ err_host_notifiers:
     vhost_dev_disable_notifiers(&fs->vhost_dev, vdev);
 }
 
-static void vuf_stop(VirtIODevice *vdev)
+static int vuf_stop(VirtIODevice *vdev)
 {
     VHostUserFS *fs = VHOST_USER_FS(vdev);
     BusState *qbus = BUS(qdev_get_parent_bus(DEVICE(vdev)));
@@ -108,34 +108,39 @@ static void vuf_stop(VirtIODevice *vdev)
     int ret;
 
     if (!k->set_guest_notifiers) {
-        return;
+        return 0;
     }
 
-    vhost_dev_stop(&fs->vhost_dev, vdev, true);
+    ret = vhost_dev_stop(&fs->vhost_dev, vdev, true);
 
-    ret = k->set_guest_notifiers(qbus->parent, fs->vhost_dev.nvqs, false);
-    if (ret < 0) {
+    if (k->set_guest_notifiers(qbus->parent, fs->vhost_dev.nvqs, false) < 0) {
         error_report("vhost guest notifier cleanup failed: %d", ret);
-        return;
+        return -1;
     }
 
     vhost_dev_disable_notifiers(&fs->vhost_dev, vdev);
+    return ret;
 }
 
-static void vuf_set_status(VirtIODevice *vdev, uint8_t status)
+static int vuf_set_status(VirtIODevice *vdev, uint8_t status)
 {
     VHostUserFS *fs = VHOST_USER_FS(vdev);
     bool should_start = virtio_device_should_start(vdev, status);
 
     if (vhost_dev_is_started(&fs->vhost_dev) == should_start) {
-        return;
+        return 0;
     }
 
     if (should_start) {
         vuf_start(vdev);
     } else {
-        vuf_stop(vdev);
+        int ret;
+        ret = vuf_stop(vdev);
+        if (ret < 0) {
+            return ret;
+        }
     }
+    return 0;
 }
 
 static uint64_t vuf_get_features(VirtIODevice *vdev,
diff --git a/hw/virtio/vhost-user-scmi.c b/hw/virtio/vhost-user-scmi.c
index 7a0f622181..f9264c4374 100644
--- a/hw/virtio/vhost-user-scmi.c
+++ b/hw/virtio/vhost-user-scmi.c
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ err_host_notifiers:
     return ret;
 }
 
-static void vu_scmi_stop(VirtIODevice *vdev)
+static int vu_scmi_stop(VirtIODevice *vdev)
 {
     VHostUserSCMI *scmi = VHOST_USER_SCMI(vdev);
     BusState *qbus = BUS(qdev_get_parent_bus(DEVICE(vdev)));
@@ -93,41 +93,46 @@ static void vu_scmi_stop(VirtIODevice *vdev)
 
     /* vhost_dev_is_started() check in the callers is not fully reliable. */
     if (!scmi->started_vu) {
-        return;
+        return 0;
     }
     scmi->started_vu = false;
 
     if (!k->set_guest_notifiers) {
-        return;
+        return 0;
     }
 
-    vhost_dev_stop(vhost_dev, vdev, true);
+    ret = vhost_dev_stop(vhost_dev, vdev, true);
 
-    ret = k->set_guest_notifiers(qbus->parent, vhost_dev->nvqs, false);
-    if (ret < 0) {
+    if (k->set_guest_notifiers(qbus->parent, vhost_dev->nvqs, false) < 0) {
         error_report("vhost guest notifier cleanup failed: %d", ret);
-        return;
+        return -1;
     }
     vhost_dev_disable_notifiers(vhost_dev, vdev);
+    return ret;
 }
 
-static void vu_scmi_set_status(VirtIODevice *vdev, uint8_t status)
+static int vu_scmi_set_status(VirtIODevice *vdev, uint8_t status)
 {
     VHostUserSCMI *scmi = VHOST_USER_SCMI(vdev);
     bool should_start = virtio_device_should_start(vdev, status);
 
     if (!scmi->connected) {
-        return;
+        return -1;
     }
     if (vhost_dev_is_started(&scmi->vhost_dev) == should_start) {
-        return;
+        return 0;
     }
 
     if (should_start) {
         vu_scmi_start(vdev);
     } else {
-        vu_scmi_stop(vdev);
+        int ret;
+        ret = vu_scmi_stop(vdev);
+        if (ret < 0) {
+            return ret;
+        }
     }
+    return 0;
 }
 
 static uint64_t vu_scmi_get_features(VirtIODevice *vdev, uint64_t features,
diff --git a/hw/virtio/vhost-user-vsock.c b/hw/virtio/vhost-user-vsock.c
index 2776792f59..993c287348 100644
--- a/hw/virtio/vhost-user-vsock.c
+++ b/hw/virtio/vhost-user-vsock.c
@@ -54,23 +54,28 @@ const VhostDevConfigOps vsock_ops = {
     .vhost_dev_config_notifier = vuv_handle_config_change,
 };
 
-static void vuv_set_status(VirtIODevice *vdev, uint8_t status)
+static int vuv_set_status(VirtIODevice *vdev, uint8_t status)
 {
     VHostVSockCommon *vvc = VHOST_VSOCK_COMMON(vdev);
     bool should_start = virtio_device_should_start(vdev, status);
+    int ret;
 
     if (vhost_dev_is_started(&vvc->vhost_dev) == should_start) {
-        return;
+        return 0;
     }
 
     if (should_start) {
-        int ret = vhost_vsock_common_start(vdev);
+        ret = vhost_vsock_common_start(vdev);
         if (ret < 0) {
-            return;
+            return ret;
         }
     } else {
-        vhost_vsock_common_stop(vdev);
+        ret = vhost_vsock_common_stop(vdev);
+        if (ret < 0) {
+            return ret;
+        }
     }
+    return 0;
 }
 
 static uint64_t vuv_get_features(VirtIODevice *vdev,
diff --git a/hw/virtio/vhost-vsock-common.c b/hw/virtio/vhost-vsock-common.c
index 4b4fbb45cc..c6c44d8989 100644
--- a/hw/virtio/vhost-vsock-common.c
+++ b/hw/virtio/vhost-vsock-common.c
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ err_host_notifiers:
     return ret;
 }
 
-void vhost_vsock_common_stop(VirtIODevice *vdev)
+int vhost_vsock_common_stop(VirtIODevice *vdev)
 {
     VHostVSockCommon *vvc = VHOST_VSOCK_COMMON(vdev);
     BusState *qbus = BUS(qdev_get_parent_bus(DEVICE(vdev)));
@@ -103,18 +103,18 @@ void vhost_vsock_common_stop(VirtIODevice *vdev)
     int ret;
 
     if (!k->set_guest_notifiers) {
-        return;
+        return 0;
     }
 
-    vhost_dev_stop(&vvc->vhost_dev, vdev, true);
+    ret = vhost_dev_stop(&vvc->vhost_dev, vdev, true);
 
-    ret = k->set_guest_notifiers(qbus->parent, vvc->vhost_dev.nvqs, false);
-    if (ret < 0) {
+    if (k->set_guest_notifiers(qbus->parent, vvc->vhost_dev.nvqs, false) < 0) {
         error_report("vhost guest notifier cleanup failed: %d", ret);
-        return;
+        return -1;
     }
 
     vhost_dev_disable_notifiers(&vvc->vhost_dev, vdev);
+    return ret;
 }
 
 
diff --git a/hw/virtio/vhost-vsock.c b/hw/virtio/vhost-vsock.c
index b73dc723c2..6e4088831f 100644
--- a/hw/virtio/vhost-vsock.c
+++ b/hw/virtio/vhost-vsock.c
@@ -67,37 +67,38 @@ static int vhost_vsock_set_running(VirtIODevice *vdev, int start)
 }
 
 
-static void vhost_vsock_set_status(VirtIODevice *vdev, uint8_t status)
+static int vhost_vsock_set_status(VirtIODevice *vdev, uint8_t status)
 {
     VHostVSockCommon *vvc = VHOST_VSOCK_COMMON(vdev);
     bool should_start = virtio_device_should_start(vdev, status);
     int ret;
 
     if (vhost_dev_is_started(&vvc->vhost_dev) == should_start) {
-        return;
+        return 0;
     }
 
     if (should_start) {
         ret = vhost_vsock_common_start(vdev);
         if (ret < 0) {
-            return;
+            return 0;
         }
 
         ret = vhost_vsock_set_running(vdev, 1);
         if (ret < 0) {
             vhost_vsock_common_stop(vdev);
             error_report("Error starting vhost vsock: %d", -ret);
-            return;
+            return 0;
         }
     } else {
         ret = vhost_vsock_set_running(vdev, 0);
         if (ret < 0) {
             error_report("vhost vsock set running failed: %d", ret);
-            return;
+            return 0;
         }
 
         vhost_vsock_common_stop(vdev);
     }
+    return 0;
 }
 
 static uint64_t vhost_vsock_get_features(VirtIODevice *vdev,
diff --git a/hw/virtio/virtio-balloon.c b/hw/virtio/virtio-balloon.c
index 91510ec2e2..db787d00b3 100644
--- a/hw/virtio/virtio-balloon.c
+++ b/hw/virtio/virtio-balloon.c
@@ -958,7 +958,7 @@ static void virtio_balloon_device_reset(VirtIODevice *vdev)
     s->poison_val = 0;
 }
 
-static void virtio_balloon_set_status(VirtIODevice *vdev, uint8_t status)
+static int virtio_balloon_set_status(VirtIODevice *vdev, uint8_t status)
 {
     VirtIOBalloon *s = VIRTIO_BALLOON(vdev);
 
@@ -988,6 +988,7 @@ static void virtio_balloon_set_status(VirtIODevice *vdev, uint8_t status)
             qemu_mutex_unlock(&s->free_page_lock);
         }
     }
+    return 0;
 }
 
 static ResettableState *virtio_balloon_get_reset_state(Object *obj)
diff --git a/hw/virtio/virtio-crypto.c b/hw/virtio/virtio-crypto.c
index e24d6914b6..517f2089c5 100644
--- a/hw/virtio/virtio-crypto.c
+++ b/hw/virtio/virtio-crypto.c
@@ -1197,11 +1197,12 @@ static void virtio_crypto_vhost_status(VirtIOCrypto *c, uint8_t status)
     }
 }
 
-static void virtio_crypto_set_status(VirtIODevice *vdev, uint8_t status)
+static int virtio_crypto_set_status(VirtIODevice *vdev, uint8_t status)
 {
     VirtIOCrypto *vcrypto = VIRTIO_CRYPTO(vdev);
 
     virtio_crypto_vhost_status(vcrypto, status);
+    return 0;
 }
 
 static void virtio_crypto_guest_notifier_mask(VirtIODevice *vdev, int idx,
diff --git a/hw/virtio/virtio-iommu.c b/hw/virtio/virtio-iommu.c
index 54060988ef..3500f1b082 100644
--- a/hw/virtio/virtio-iommu.c
+++ b/hw/virtio/virtio-iommu.c
@@ -1522,9 +1522,10 @@ static void virtio_iommu_device_reset_exit(Object *obj, ResetType type)
                                    NULL, NULL, virtio_iommu_put_endpoint);
 }
 
-static void virtio_iommu_set_status(VirtIODevice *vdev, uint8_t status)
+static int virtio_iommu_set_status(VirtIODevice *vdev, uint8_t status)
 {
     trace_virtio_iommu_device_status(status);
+    return 0;
 }
 
 static void virtio_iommu_instance_init(Object *obj)
diff --git a/hw/virtio/virtio-rng.c b/hw/virtio/virtio-rng.c
index dcb3c71d6a..3df5d2576e 100644
--- a/hw/virtio/virtio-rng.c
+++ b/hw/virtio/virtio-rng.c
@@ -159,17 +159,18 @@ static void check_rate_limit(void *opaque)
     vrng->activate_timer = true;
 }
 
-static void virtio_rng_set_status(VirtIODevice *vdev, uint8_t status)
+static int virtio_rng_set_status(VirtIODevice *vdev, uint8_t status)
 {
     VirtIORNG *vrng = VIRTIO_RNG(vdev);
 
     if (!vdev->vm_running) {
-        return;
+        return 0;
     }
     vdev->status = status;
 
     /* Something changed, try to process buffers */
     virtio_rng_process(vrng);
+    return 0;
 }
 
 static void virtio_rng_device_realize(DeviceState *dev, Error **errp)
diff --git a/hw/virtio/virtio.c b/hw/virtio/virtio.c
index e3b62522ec..1b55d8d8a2 100644
--- a/hw/virtio/virtio.c
+++ b/hw/virtio/virtio.c
@@ -2221,12 +2221,12 @@ int virtio_set_status(VirtIODevice *vdev, uint8_t val)
 {
     VirtioDeviceClass *k = VIRTIO_DEVICE_GET_CLASS(vdev);
     trace_virtio_set_status(vdev, val);
+    int ret = 0;
 
     if (virtio_vdev_has_feature(vdev, VIRTIO_F_VERSION_1)) {
         if (!(vdev->status & VIRTIO_CONFIG_S_FEATURES_OK) &&
             val & VIRTIO_CONFIG_S_FEATURES_OK) {
-            int ret = virtio_validate_features(vdev);
-
+            ret = virtio_validate_features(vdev);
             if (ret) {
                 return ret;
             }
@@ -2239,11 +2239,15 @@ int virtio_set_status(VirtIODevice *vdev, uint8_t val)
     }
 
     if (k->set_status) {
-        k->set_status(vdev, val);
+        ret = k->set_status(vdev, val);
+        if (ret) {
+            qemu_log("set %s status to %d failed, old status: %d\n",
+                     vdev->name, val, vdev->status);
+        }
     }
     vdev->status = val;
 
-    return 0;
+    return ret;
 }
 
 static enum virtio_device_endian virtio_default_endian(void)
@@ -3419,7 +3423,7 @@ void virtio_cleanup(VirtIODevice *vdev)
     qemu_del_vm_change_state_handler(vdev->vmstate);
 }
 
-static void virtio_vmstate_change(void *opaque, bool running, RunState state)
+static int virtio_vmstate_change(void *opaque, bool running, RunState state)
 {
     VirtIODevice *vdev = opaque;
     BusState *qbus = qdev_get_parent_bus(DEVICE(vdev));
@@ -3436,8 +3440,12 @@ static void virtio_vmstate_change(void *opaque, bool running, RunState state)
     }
 
     if (!backend_run) {
-        virtio_set_status(vdev, vdev->status);
+        int ret = virtio_set_status(vdev, vdev->status);
+        if (ret) {
+            return ret;
+        }
     }
+    return 0;
 }
 
 void virtio_instance_init_common(Object *proxy_obj, void *data,
@@ -3489,7 +3497,7 @@ void virtio_init(VirtIODevice *vdev, uint16_t device_id, size_t config_size)
         vdev->config = NULL;
     }
     vdev->vmstate = qdev_add_vm_change_state_handler(DEVICE(vdev),
-            virtio_vmstate_change, NULL, vdev);
+            NULL, virtio_vmstate_change, vdev);
     vdev->device_endian = virtio_default_endian();
     vdev->use_guest_notifier_mask = true;
 }
diff --git a/include/hw/virtio/vhost-scsi-common.h b/include/hw/virtio/vhost-scsi-common.h
index c5d2c09455..d54d9c916f 100644
--- a/include/hw/virtio/vhost-scsi-common.h
+++ b/include/hw/virtio/vhost-scsi-common.h
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ struct VHostSCSICommon {
 };
 
 int vhost_scsi_common_start(VHostSCSICommon *vsc, Error **errp);
-void vhost_scsi_common_stop(VHostSCSICommon *vsc);
+int vhost_scsi_common_stop(VHostSCSICommon *vsc);
 char *vhost_scsi_common_get_fw_dev_path(FWPathProvider *p, BusState *bus,
                                         DeviceState *dev);
 void vhost_scsi_common_set_config(VirtIODevice *vdev, const uint8_t *config);
diff --git a/include/hw/virtio/vhost-vsock-common.h b/include/hw/virtio/vhost-vsock-common.h
index 75a74e8a99..01bf6062af 100644
--- a/include/hw/virtio/vhost-vsock-common.h
+++ b/include/hw/virtio/vhost-vsock-common.h
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ struct VHostVSockCommon {
 };
 
 int vhost_vsock_common_start(VirtIODevice *vdev);
-void vhost_vsock_common_stop(VirtIODevice *vdev);
+int vhost_vsock_common_stop(VirtIODevice *vdev);
 int vhost_vsock_common_pre_save(void *opaque);
 int vhost_vsock_common_post_load(void *opaque, int version_id);
 void vhost_vsock_common_realize(VirtIODevice *vdev);
diff --git a/include/hw/virtio/virtio.h b/include/hw/virtio/virtio.h
index 7e0c471ea4..214d4a77e9 100644
--- a/include/hw/virtio/virtio.h
+++ b/include/hw/virtio/virtio.h
@@ -186,7 +186,7 @@ struct VirtioDeviceClass {
     void (*get_config)(VirtIODevice *vdev, uint8_t *config);
     void (*set_config)(VirtIODevice *vdev, const uint8_t *config);
     void (*reset)(VirtIODevice *vdev);
-    void (*set_status)(VirtIODevice *vdev, uint8_t val);
+    int (*set_status)(VirtIODevice *vdev, uint8_t val);
     /* Device must validate queue_index.  */
     void (*queue_reset)(VirtIODevice *vdev, uint32_t queue_index);
     /* Device must validate queue_index.  */
diff --git a/include/system/vhost-user-backend.h b/include/system/vhost-user-backend.h
index 5ed953cd53..5634ebdb2e 100644
--- a/include/system/vhost-user-backend.h
+++ b/include/system/vhost-user-backend.h
@@ -43,6 +43,6 @@ struct VhostUserBackend {
 int vhost_user_backend_dev_init(VhostUserBackend *b, VirtIODevice *vdev,
                                 unsigned nvqs, Error **errp);
 void vhost_user_backend_start(VhostUserBackend *b);
-void vhost_user_backend_stop(VhostUserBackend *b);
+int vhost_user_backend_stop(VhostUserBackend *b);
 
 #endif