diff --git a/include/hw/pci/msi.h b/include/hw/pci/msi.h
index 8124908..4837bcf 100644
--- a/include/hw/pci/msi.h
+++ b/include/hw/pci/msi.h
@@ -35,7 +35,8 @@ void msi_set_message(PCIDevice *dev, MSIMessage msg);
 MSIMessage msi_get_message(PCIDevice *dev, unsigned int vector);
 bool msi_enabled(const PCIDevice *dev);
 int msi_init(struct PCIDevice *dev, uint8_t offset,
-             unsigned int nr_vectors, bool msi64bit, bool msi_per_vector_mask);
+             unsigned int nr_vectors, bool msi64bit,
+             bool msi_per_vector_mask, Error **errp);
 void msi_uninit(struct PCIDevice *dev);
 void msi_reset(PCIDevice *dev);
 void msi_notify(PCIDevice *dev, unsigned int vector);
diff --git a/hw/audio/intel-hda.c b/hw/audio/intel-hda.c
index 4e19e8b..cd95340 100644
--- a/hw/audio/intel-hda.c
+++ b/hw/audio/intel-hda.c
@@ -1132,6 +1132,8 @@ static void intel_hda_realize(PCIDevice *pci, Error **errp)
 {
     IntelHDAState *d = INTEL_HDA(pci);
     uint8_t *conf = d->pci.config;
+    Error *err = NULL;
+    int ret;
 
     d->name = object_get_typename(OBJECT(d));
 
@@ -1140,13 +1142,27 @@ static void intel_hda_realize(PCIDevice *pci, Error **errp)
     /* HDCTL off 0x40 bit 0 selects signaling mode (1-HDA, 0 - Ac97) 18.1.19 */
     conf[0x40] = 0x01;
 
+    if (d->msi != ON_OFF_AUTO_OFF) {
+        ret = msi_init(&d->pci, d->old_msi_addr ? 0x50 : 0x60,
+                       1, true, false, &err);
+        /* Any error other than -ENOTSUP(board's MSI support is broken)
+         * is a programming error */
+        assert(!ret || ret == -ENOTSUP);
+        if (ret && d->msi == ON_OFF_AUTO_ON) {
+            /* Can't satisfy user's explicit msi=on request, fail */
+            error_append_hint(&err, "You have to use msi=auto (default) or "
+                    "msi=off with this machine type.\n");
+            error_propagate(errp, err);
+            return;
+        }
+        assert(!err || d->msi == ON_OFF_AUTO_AUTO);
+        /* With msi=auto, we fall back to MSI off silently */
+        error_free(err);
+    }
+
     memory_region_init_io(&d->mmio, OBJECT(d), &intel_hda_mmio_ops, d,
                           "intel-hda", 0x4000);
     pci_register_bar(&d->pci, 0, 0, &d->mmio);
-    if (d->msi != ON_OFF_AUTO_OFF) {
-         /* TODO check for errors */
-        msi_init(&d->pci, d->old_msi_addr ? 0x50 : 0x60, 1, true, false);
-    }
 
     hda_codec_bus_init(DEVICE(pci), &d->codecs, sizeof(d->codecs),
                        intel_hda_response, intel_hda_xfer);
diff --git a/hw/ide/ich.c b/hw/ide/ich.c
index 0a13334..920ec27 100644
--- a/hw/ide/ich.c
+++ b/hw/ide/ich.c
@@ -68,7 +68,6 @@
 #include <hw/isa/isa.h>
 #include "sysemu/block-backend.h"
 #include "sysemu/dma.h"
-
 #include <hw/ide/pci.h>
 #include <hw/ide/ahci.h>
 
@@ -111,6 +110,7 @@ static void pci_ich9_ahci_realize(PCIDevice *dev, Error **errp)
     int sata_cap_offset;
     uint8_t *sata_cap;
     d = ICH_AHCI(dev);
+    int ret;
 
     ahci_realize(&d->ahci, DEVICE(dev), pci_get_address_space(dev), 6);
 
@@ -146,7 +146,10 @@ static void pci_ich9_ahci_realize(PCIDevice *dev, Error **errp)
     /* Although the AHCI 1.3 specification states that the first capability
      * should be PMCAP, the Intel ICH9 data sheet specifies that the ICH9
      * AHCI device puts the MSI capability first, pointing to 0x80. */
-    msi_init(dev, ICH9_MSI_CAP_OFFSET, 1, true, false);
+    ret = msi_init(dev, ICH9_MSI_CAP_OFFSET, 1, true, false, NULL);
+    /* Any error other than -ENOTSUP(board's MSI support is broken)
+     * is a programming error.  Fall back to INTx silently on -ENOTSUP */
+    assert(!ret || ret == -ENOTSUP);
 }
 
 static void pci_ich9_uninit(PCIDevice *dev)
diff --git a/hw/net/e1000e.c b/hw/net/e1000e.c
index 692283f..a06d184 100644
--- a/hw/net/e1000e.c
+++ b/hw/net/e1000e.c
@@ -268,13 +268,9 @@ e1000e_init_msi(E1000EState *s)
 {
     int res;
 
-    res = msi_init(PCI_DEVICE(s),
-                   0xD0,   /* MSI capability offset              */
-                   1,      /* MAC MSI interrupts                 */
-                   true,   /* 64-bit message addresses supported */
-                   false); /* Per vector mask supported          */
+    res = msi_init(PCI_DEVICE(s), 0xD0, 1, true, false, NULL);
 
-    if (res > 0) {
+    if (!res) {
         s->intr_state |= E1000E_USE_MSI;
     } else {
         trace_e1000e_msi_init_fail(res);
diff --git a/hw/net/vmxnet3.c b/hw/net/vmxnet3.c
index 92236d3..f24298c 100644
--- a/hw/net/vmxnet3.c
+++ b/hw/net/vmxnet3.c
@@ -2216,27 +2216,6 @@ vmxnet3_cleanup_msix(VMXNET3State *s)
     }
 }
 
-#define VMXNET3_USE_64BIT         (true)
-#define VMXNET3_PER_VECTOR_MASK   (false)
-
-static bool
-vmxnet3_init_msi(VMXNET3State *s)
-{
-    PCIDevice *d = PCI_DEVICE(s);
-    int res;
-
-    res = msi_init(d, VMXNET3_MSI_OFFSET(s), VMXNET3_MAX_NMSIX_INTRS,
-                   VMXNET3_USE_64BIT, VMXNET3_PER_VECTOR_MASK);
-    if (0 > res) {
-        VMW_WRPRN("Failed to initialize MSI, error %d", res);
-        s->msi_used = false;
-    } else {
-        s->msi_used = true;
-    }
-
-    return s->msi_used;
-}
-
 static void
 vmxnet3_cleanup_msi(VMXNET3State *s)
 {
@@ -2298,10 +2277,15 @@ static uint64_t vmxnet3_device_serial_num(VMXNET3State *s)
     return dsn_payload;
 }
 
+
+#define VMXNET3_USE_64BIT         (true)
+#define VMXNET3_PER_VECTOR_MASK   (false)
+
 static void vmxnet3_pci_realize(PCIDevice *pci_dev, Error **errp)
 {
     DeviceState *dev = DEVICE(pci_dev);
     VMXNET3State *s = VMXNET3(pci_dev);
+    int ret;
 
     VMW_CBPRN("Starting init...");
 
@@ -2325,14 +2309,17 @@ static void vmxnet3_pci_realize(PCIDevice *pci_dev, Error **errp)
     /* Interrupt pin A */
     pci_dev->config[PCI_INTERRUPT_PIN] = 0x01;
 
+    ret = msi_init(pci_dev, VMXNET3_MSI_OFFSET(s), VMXNET3_MAX_NMSIX_INTRS,
+                   VMXNET3_USE_64BIT, VMXNET3_PER_VECTOR_MASK, NULL);
+    /* Any error other than -ENOTSUP(board's MSI support is broken)
+     * is a programming error. Fall back to INTx silently on -ENOTSUP */
+    assert(!ret || ret == -ENOTSUP);
+    s->msi_used = !ret;
+
     if (!vmxnet3_init_msix(s)) {
         VMW_WRPRN("Failed to initialize MSI-X, configuration is inconsistent.");
     }
 
-    if (!vmxnet3_init_msi(s)) {
-        VMW_WRPRN("Failed to initialize MSI, configuration is inconsistent.");
-    }
-
     vmxnet3_net_init(s);
 
     if (pci_is_express(pci_dev)) {
diff --git a/hw/pci-bridge/ioh3420.c b/hw/pci-bridge/ioh3420.c
index b4a7806..93c6f0b 100644
--- a/hw/pci-bridge/ioh3420.c
+++ b/hw/pci-bridge/ioh3420.c
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@
 #include "hw/pci/msi.h"
 #include "hw/pci/pcie.h"
 #include "ioh3420.h"
+#include "qapi/error.h"
 
 #define PCI_DEVICE_ID_IOH_EPORT         0x3420  /* D0:F0 express mode */
 #define PCI_DEVICE_ID_IOH_REV           0x2
@@ -97,6 +98,7 @@ static int ioh3420_initfn(PCIDevice *d)
     PCIEPort *p = PCIE_PORT(d);
     PCIESlot *s = PCIE_SLOT(d);
     int rc;
+    Error *err = NULL;
 
     pci_bridge_initfn(d, TYPE_PCIE_BUS);
     pcie_port_init_reg(d);
@@ -109,8 +111,10 @@ static int ioh3420_initfn(PCIDevice *d)
 
     rc = msi_init(d, IOH_EP_MSI_OFFSET, IOH_EP_MSI_NR_VECTOR,
                   IOH_EP_MSI_SUPPORTED_FLAGS & PCI_MSI_FLAGS_64BIT,
-                  IOH_EP_MSI_SUPPORTED_FLAGS & PCI_MSI_FLAGS_MASKBIT);
+                  IOH_EP_MSI_SUPPORTED_FLAGS & PCI_MSI_FLAGS_MASKBIT, &err);
     if (rc < 0) {
+        assert(rc == -ENOTSUP);
+        error_report_err(err);
         goto err_bridge;
     }
 
diff --git a/hw/pci-bridge/pci_bridge_dev.c b/hw/pci-bridge/pci_bridge_dev.c
index 0fbecc4..5dbd933 100644
--- a/hw/pci-bridge/pci_bridge_dev.c
+++ b/hw/pci-bridge/pci_bridge_dev.c
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ static int pci_bridge_dev_initfn(PCIDevice *dev)
     PCIBridge *br = PCI_BRIDGE(dev);
     PCIBridgeDev *bridge_dev = PCI_BRIDGE_DEV(dev);
     int err;
+    Error *local_err = NULL;
 
     pci_bridge_initfn(dev, TYPE_PCI_BUS);
 
@@ -75,12 +76,23 @@ static int pci_bridge_dev_initfn(PCIDevice *dev)
         goto slotid_error;
     }
 
-    if (bridge_dev->msi != ON_OFF_AUTO_OFF &&
-        msi_nonbroken) {
-        err = msi_init(dev, 0, 1, true, true);
-        if (err < 0) {
+    if (bridge_dev->msi != ON_OFF_AUTO_OFF) {
+        /* it means SHPC exists, because MSI is needed by SHPC */
+
+        err = msi_init(dev, 0, 1, true, true, &local_err);
+        /* Any error other than -ENOTSUP(board's MSI support is broken)
+         * is a programming error */
+        assert(!err || err == -ENOTSUP);
+        if (err && bridge_dev->msi == ON_OFF_AUTO_ON) {
+            /* Can't satisfy user's explicit msi=on request, fail */
+            error_append_hint(&local_err, "You have to use msi=auto (default) "
+                    "or msi=off with this machine type.\n");
+            error_report_err(local_err);
             goto msi_error;
         }
+        assert(!local_err || bridge_dev->msi == ON_OFF_AUTO_AUTO);
+        /* With msi=auto, we fall back to MSI off silently */
+        error_free(local_err);
     }
 
     if (shpc_present(dev)) {
diff --git a/hw/pci-bridge/xio3130_downstream.c b/hw/pci-bridge/xio3130_downstream.c
index e6d653d..f6149a3 100644
--- a/hw/pci-bridge/xio3130_downstream.c
+++ b/hw/pci-bridge/xio3130_downstream.c
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
 #include "hw/pci/msi.h"
 #include "hw/pci/pcie.h"
 #include "xio3130_downstream.h"
+#include "qapi/error.h"
 
 #define PCI_DEVICE_ID_TI_XIO3130D       0x8233  /* downstream port */
 #define XIO3130_REVISION                0x1
@@ -60,14 +61,17 @@ static int xio3130_downstream_initfn(PCIDevice *d)
     PCIEPort *p = PCIE_PORT(d);
     PCIESlot *s = PCIE_SLOT(d);
     int rc;
+    Error *err = NULL;
 
     pci_bridge_initfn(d, TYPE_PCIE_BUS);
     pcie_port_init_reg(d);
 
     rc = msi_init(d, XIO3130_MSI_OFFSET, XIO3130_MSI_NR_VECTOR,
                   XIO3130_MSI_SUPPORTED_FLAGS & PCI_MSI_FLAGS_64BIT,
-                  XIO3130_MSI_SUPPORTED_FLAGS & PCI_MSI_FLAGS_MASKBIT);
+                  XIO3130_MSI_SUPPORTED_FLAGS & PCI_MSI_FLAGS_MASKBIT, &err);
     if (rc < 0) {
+        assert(rc == -ENOTSUP);
+        error_report_err(err);
         goto err_bridge;
     }
 
diff --git a/hw/pci-bridge/xio3130_upstream.c b/hw/pci-bridge/xio3130_upstream.c
index d976844..487edac 100644
--- a/hw/pci-bridge/xio3130_upstream.c
+++ b/hw/pci-bridge/xio3130_upstream.c
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
 #include "hw/pci/msi.h"
 #include "hw/pci/pcie.h"
 #include "xio3130_upstream.h"
+#include "qapi/error.h"
 
 #define PCI_DEVICE_ID_TI_XIO3130U       0x8232  /* upstream port */
 #define XIO3130_REVISION                0x2
@@ -56,14 +57,17 @@ static int xio3130_upstream_initfn(PCIDevice *d)
 {
     PCIEPort *p = PCIE_PORT(d);
     int rc;
+    Error *err = NULL;
 
     pci_bridge_initfn(d, TYPE_PCIE_BUS);
     pcie_port_init_reg(d);
 
     rc = msi_init(d, XIO3130_MSI_OFFSET, XIO3130_MSI_NR_VECTOR,
                   XIO3130_MSI_SUPPORTED_FLAGS & PCI_MSI_FLAGS_64BIT,
-                  XIO3130_MSI_SUPPORTED_FLAGS & PCI_MSI_FLAGS_MASKBIT);
+                  XIO3130_MSI_SUPPORTED_FLAGS & PCI_MSI_FLAGS_MASKBIT, &err);
     if (rc < 0) {
+        assert(rc == -ENOTSUP);
+        error_report_err(err);
         goto err_bridge;
     }
 
diff --git a/hw/pci/msi.c b/hw/pci/msi.c
index ed79225..a87b227 100644
--- a/hw/pci/msi.c
+++ b/hw/pci/msi.c
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@
 #include "hw/pci/msi.h"
 #include "hw/xen/xen.h"
 #include "qemu/range.h"
+#include "qapi/error.h"
 
 /* PCI_MSI_ADDRESS_LO */
 #define PCI_MSI_ADDRESS_LO_MASK         (~0x3)
@@ -173,7 +174,8 @@ bool msi_enabled(const PCIDevice *dev)
  * If @msi64bit, make the device capable of sending a 64-bit message
  * address.
  * If @msi_per_vector_mask, make the device support per-vector masking.
- * Return 0 on success, return -errno on error.
+ * @errp is for returning errors.
+ * Return 0 on success; set @errp and return -errno on error.
  *
  * -ENOTSUP means lacking msi support for a msi-capable platform.
  * -EINVAL means capability overlap, happens when @offset is non-zero,
@@ -181,7 +183,8 @@ bool msi_enabled(const PCIDevice *dev)
  *  if a real HW is broken.
  */
 int msi_init(struct PCIDevice *dev, uint8_t offset,
-             unsigned int nr_vectors, bool msi64bit, bool msi_per_vector_mask)
+             unsigned int nr_vectors, bool msi64bit,
+             bool msi_per_vector_mask, Error **errp)
 {
     unsigned int vectors_order;
     uint16_t flags;
@@ -189,6 +192,7 @@ int msi_init(struct PCIDevice *dev, uint8_t offset,
     int config_offset;
 
     if (!msi_nonbroken) {
+        error_setg(errp, "MSI is not supported by interrupt controller");
         return -ENOTSUP;
     }
 
@@ -212,7 +216,8 @@ int msi_init(struct PCIDevice *dev, uint8_t offset,
     }
 
     cap_size = msi_cap_sizeof(flags);
-    config_offset = pci_add_capability(dev, PCI_CAP_ID_MSI, offset, cap_size);
+    config_offset = pci_add_capability2(dev, PCI_CAP_ID_MSI, offset,
+                                        cap_size, errp);
     if (config_offset < 0) {
         return config_offset;
     }
diff --git a/hw/scsi/megasas.c b/hw/scsi/megasas.c
index 636ea73..6eb57ff 100644
--- a/hw/scsi/megasas.c
+++ b/hw/scsi/megasas.c
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@
 #include "hw/scsi/scsi.h"
 #include "block/scsi.h"
 #include "trace.h"
-
+#include "qapi/error.h"
 #include "mfi.h"
 
 #define MEGASAS_VERSION_GEN1 "1.70"
@@ -2330,6 +2330,8 @@ static void megasas_scsi_realize(PCIDevice *dev, Error **errp)
     MegasasBaseClass *b = MEGASAS_DEVICE_GET_CLASS(s);
     uint8_t *pci_conf;
     int i, bar_type;
+    Error *err = NULL;
+    int ret;
 
     pci_conf = dev->config;
 
@@ -2338,6 +2340,24 @@ static void megasas_scsi_realize(PCIDevice *dev, Error **errp)
     /* Interrupt pin 1 */
     pci_conf[PCI_INTERRUPT_PIN] = 0x01;
 
+    if (megasas_use_msi(s)) {
+        ret = msi_init(dev, 0x50, 1, true, false, &err);
+        /* Any error other than -ENOTSUP(board's MSI support is broken)
+         * is a programming error */
+        assert(!ret || ret == -ENOTSUP);
+        if (ret && s->msi == ON_OFF_AUTO_ON) {
+            /* Can't satisfy user's explicit msi=on request, fail */
+            error_append_hint(&err, "You have to use msi=auto (default) or "
+                    "msi=off with this machine type.\n");
+            error_propagate(errp, err);
+            return;
+        } else if (ret) {
+            /* With msi=auto, we fall back to MSI off silently */
+            s->msi = ON_OFF_AUTO_OFF;
+            error_free(err);
+        }
+    }
+
     memory_region_init_io(&s->mmio_io, OBJECT(s), &megasas_mmio_ops, s,
                           "megasas-mmio", 0x4000);
     memory_region_init_io(&s->port_io, OBJECT(s), &megasas_port_ops, s,
@@ -2345,10 +2365,6 @@ static void megasas_scsi_realize(PCIDevice *dev, Error **errp)
     memory_region_init_io(&s->queue_io, OBJECT(s), &megasas_queue_ops, s,
                           "megasas-queue", 0x40000);
 
-    if (megasas_use_msi(s) &&
-        msi_init(dev, 0x50, 1, true, false)) {
-        s->msi = ON_OFF_AUTO_OFF;
-    }
     if (megasas_use_msix(s) &&
         msix_init(dev, 15, &s->mmio_io, b->mmio_bar, 0x2000,
                   &s->mmio_io, b->mmio_bar, 0x3800, 0x68)) {
diff --git a/hw/scsi/mptsas.c b/hw/scsi/mptsas.c
index 40033c4..bb056c4 100644
--- a/hw/scsi/mptsas.c
+++ b/hw/scsi/mptsas.c
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@
 #include "hw/scsi/scsi.h"
 #include "block/scsi.h"
 #include "trace.h"
-
+#include "qapi/error.h"
 #include "mptsas.h"
 #include "mpi.h"
 
@@ -1273,10 +1273,33 @@ static void mptsas_scsi_init(PCIDevice *dev, Error **errp)
 {
     DeviceState *d = DEVICE(dev);
     MPTSASState *s = MPT_SAS(dev);
+    Error *err = NULL;
+    int ret;
 
     dev->config[PCI_LATENCY_TIMER] = 0;
     dev->config[PCI_INTERRUPT_PIN] = 0x01;
 
+    if (s->msi != ON_OFF_AUTO_OFF) {
+        ret = msi_init(dev, 0, 1, true, false, &err);
+        /* Any error other than -ENOTSUP(board's MSI support is broken)
+         * is a programming error */
+        assert(!ret || ret == -ENOTSUP);
+        if (ret && s->msi == ON_OFF_AUTO_ON) {
+            /* Can't satisfy user's explicit msi=on request, fail */
+            error_append_hint(&err, "You have to use msi=auto (default) or "
+                    "msi=off with this machine type.\n");
+            error_propagate(errp, err);
+            s->msi_in_use = false;
+            return;
+        } else if (ret) {
+            /* With msi=auto, we fall back to MSI off silently */
+            error_free(err);
+            s->msi_in_use = false;
+        } else {
+            s->msi_in_use = true;
+        }
+    }
+
     memory_region_init_io(&s->mmio_io, OBJECT(s), &mptsas_mmio_ops, s,
                           "mptsas-mmio", 0x4000);
     memory_region_init_io(&s->port_io, OBJECT(s), &mptsas_port_ops, s,
@@ -1284,12 +1307,6 @@ static void mptsas_scsi_init(PCIDevice *dev, Error **errp)
     memory_region_init_io(&s->diag_io, OBJECT(s), &mptsas_diag_ops, s,
                           "mptsas-diag", 0x10000);
 
-    if (s->msi != ON_OFF_AUTO_OFF &&
-        msi_init(dev, 0, 1, true, false) >= 0) {
-        /* TODO check for errors */
-        s->msi_in_use = true;
-    }
-
     pci_register_bar(dev, 0, PCI_BASE_ADDRESS_SPACE_IO, &s->port_io);
     pci_register_bar(dev, 1, PCI_BASE_ADDRESS_SPACE_MEMORY |
                                  PCI_BASE_ADDRESS_MEM_TYPE_32, &s->mmio_io);
diff --git a/hw/scsi/vmw_pvscsi.c b/hw/scsi/vmw_pvscsi.c
index e035fce..ecd6077 100644
--- a/hw/scsi/vmw_pvscsi.c
+++ b/hw/scsi/vmw_pvscsi.c
@@ -1063,7 +1063,7 @@ pvscsi_init_msi(PVSCSIState *s)
     PCIDevice *d = PCI_DEVICE(s);
 
     res = msi_init(d, PVSCSI_MSI_OFFSET(s), PVSCSI_MSIX_NUM_VECTORS,
-                   PVSCSI_USE_64BIT, PVSCSI_PER_VECTOR_MASK);
+                   PVSCSI_USE_64BIT, PVSCSI_PER_VECTOR_MASK, NULL);
     if (res < 0) {
         trace_pvscsi_init_msi_fail(res);
         s->msi_used = false;
diff --git a/hw/usb/hcd-xhci.c b/hw/usb/hcd-xhci.c
index 0a5510f..1a3377f 100644
--- a/hw/usb/hcd-xhci.c
+++ b/hw/usb/hcd-xhci.c
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@
 #include "hw/pci/msi.h"
 #include "hw/pci/msix.h"
 #include "trace.h"
+#include "qapi/error.h"
 
 //#define DEBUG_XHCI
 //#define DEBUG_DATA
@@ -3581,6 +3582,7 @@ static void usb_xhci_init(XHCIState *xhci)
 static void usb_xhci_realize(struct PCIDevice *dev, Error **errp)
 {
     int i, ret;
+    Error *err = NULL;
 
     XHCIState *xhci = XHCI(dev);
 
@@ -3591,6 +3593,23 @@ static void usb_xhci_realize(struct PCIDevice *dev, Error **errp)
 
     usb_xhci_init(xhci);
 
+    if (xhci->msi != ON_OFF_AUTO_OFF) {
+        ret = msi_init(dev, 0x70, xhci->numintrs, true, false, &err);
+        /* Any error other than -ENOTSUP(board's MSI support is broken)
+         * is a programming error */
+        assert(!ret || ret == -ENOTSUP);
+        if (ret && xhci->msi == ON_OFF_AUTO_ON) {
+            /* Can't satisfy user's explicit msi=on request, fail */
+            error_append_hint(&err, "You have to use msi=auto (default) or "
+                    "msi=off with this machine type.\n");
+            error_propagate(errp, err);
+            return;
+        }
+        assert(!err || xhci->msi == ON_OFF_AUTO_AUTO);
+        /* With msi=auto, we fall back to MSI off silently */
+        error_free(err);
+    }
+
     if (xhci->numintrs > MAXINTRS) {
         xhci->numintrs = MAXINTRS;
     }
@@ -3648,10 +3667,6 @@ static void usb_xhci_realize(struct PCIDevice *dev, Error **errp)
         assert(ret >= 0);
     }
 
-    if (xhci->msi != ON_OFF_AUTO_OFF) {
-        /* TODO check for errors */
-        msi_init(dev, 0x70, xhci->numintrs, true, false);
-    }
     if (xhci->msix != ON_OFF_AUTO_OFF) {
         /* TODO check for errors */
         msix_init(dev, xhci->numintrs,
diff --git a/hw/vfio/pci.c b/hw/vfio/pci.c
index f2c679e..44783c5 100644
--- a/hw/vfio/pci.c
+++ b/hw/vfio/pci.c
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@
 #include "sysemu/sysemu.h"
 #include "pci.h"
 #include "trace.h"
+#include "qapi/error.h"
 
 #define MSIX_CAP_LENGTH 12
 
@@ -1170,6 +1171,7 @@ static int vfio_msi_setup(VFIOPCIDevice *vdev, int pos)
     uint16_t ctrl;
     bool msi_64bit, msi_maskbit;
     int ret, entries;
+    Error *err = NULL;
 
     if (pread(vdev->vbasedev.fd, &ctrl, sizeof(ctrl),
               vdev->config_offset + pos + PCI_CAP_FLAGS) != sizeof(ctrl)) {
@@ -1183,12 +1185,13 @@ static int vfio_msi_setup(VFIOPCIDevice *vdev, int pos)
 
     trace_vfio_msi_setup(vdev->vbasedev.name, pos);
 
-    ret = msi_init(&vdev->pdev, pos, entries, msi_64bit, msi_maskbit);
+    ret = msi_init(&vdev->pdev, pos, entries, msi_64bit, msi_maskbit, &err);
     if (ret < 0) {
         if (ret == -ENOTSUP) {
             return 0;
         }
-        error_report("vfio: msi_init failed");
+        error_prepend(&err, "vfio: msi_init failed: ");
+        error_report_err(err);
         return ret;
     }
     vdev->msi_cap_size = 0xa + (msi_maskbit ? 0xa : 0) + (msi_64bit ? 0x4 : 0);
